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Volunteer
BE A VITA HERO
Why become a volunteer in our community?
Becoming a VITA volunteer has a tremendous impact on members of our community, such as seniors, non-English speakers, limited English speakers, veterans, and low-income people. Having someone certified to prepare taxes at no cost is a great relief for our clients.
You can volunteer two days a week for three hours each night or just one day. Alternatively, you can participate in our virtual VITA program where you prepare returns at home.
Expectations
Second year and above individuals will prepare both Basic and Advance Level returns. those certified at the Advance Level are able to Quality Review all Basic and Advance Level Returns.
Only Military Level certified individuals will prepare Military Level returns. The Military certification is an optional specialty certification that becomes available after passing the Advanced certification. Thus, Military certified individuals can prepare returns of Basic, Advanced, returns involving Rental Property and Military returns.
All of our volunteer income preparers must be certified annually at the desired/chosen level. All of our volunteers are required to complete the Volunteer Standards of Conduct (Ethics) training and intake/interview and quality review training and exam.
Volunteers can choose to become advanced or military level tax preparers. All of our applicants must certify at the advanced level. It is not necessary to take the Basic exam before taking the Advanced exam.
Requirements
- You must be 16 years or older.
- Volunteer in our program for at least one year.
- Help and support other volunteers.
- An organized, responsible, and punctual person.
- Free up your time for 3 hours one or two days a week
- Willing to do training at your own pace.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a big plus.
Simple Steps to Help
Register for VITA
Start your journey with Desert Financial and Tax Services by completing the registration form. Our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you.
Study and pass the exams
Choose how to obtain your training materials: online or through hard copies. All volunteers must present their certificates to the Volunteer Coordinator.
Prepare taxes
Come to the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Career Center on the first day of your volunteer session. Get ready to have fun and meet new people.
Other Opportunities
If you do not want to prepare taxes, you can volunteer as a greeter/inspector, interpreter, or valet.
Let's work together
Make a difference in people's lives by becoming a VITA volunteer!
Plato:
“Caring for the happiness of others, we find our own”
TAX EDUCATION RESOURCES
Link & Learn Taxes Linking Volunteers to Quality E-Learning
Link and Learn Certification Paths for E-Learning
Link & Learn Certification Tests, Getting-Started-Job-Aid.PDF
IRS Publication 4012 – VITA Volunteer Resource Guide
IRS Publication 4299, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights
IRS Publication 4961 VITA – TCE Volunteer Standards of Conduct – Ethics Training
IRS Publication 4491 VITA Training Guide
IRS Publication 5088 Site Coordinator Training
IRS Publication 5101 Intake – Interview and Quality Review Training
IRS Publication 5353 Intake/Interview & Quality Review Policy
IRS Publication 5377 Practice Lab for VITA/TCE Partners and Volunteers
IRS Publication 5683, VITA/TCE Handbook for Partners and Site Coordinators
IRS Publication 6744 – VITA Volunteer Assistor’s Test-Retest
VITA TAX ALERTS 2025
SITE PUBLICATIONS
VITA Site Coordinator Corner Web Site
FACT SHEET – For Partners and Employees, Quality Site Requirements for Alternative Filing Models
IRS Publication 3676, IRS Certified Volunteers Providing Free Tax Preparation (Site Poster)
IRS Publication 17, Tax Guide 2023
IRS Publication 4942 – Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
IRS Publication 4299, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights
IRS Publication 4836, VITA/TCE Free Tax Programs (Site Poster)
IRS Publication 4053, Your Civil Rights are Protected (Site Poster)
IRS Publication 5455- VITA Reporting Data Breaches
IRS Publication 5088, Site Coordinator Refresher Training
IRS Publication 5166, IRS Volunteer Quality Site Requirements
IRS Publication 5324, Fact Sheet Quality Site Requirements for Alternative Filing Models.pdf
**Thank you to the City of Phoenix VITA for providing this volunteer resources.
OTHER TRAINING RESOURCES
Prosperity Now & The Taxpayer Opportunity Network’s Module Training Tools
