Since 2001, Tax Volunteers have provided free tax preparation services, from January through April, to working families in Baltimore so they avoid the high cost of paid tax preparers. Volunteers also help them claim the Earned Income Tax Credit and other valuable tax credits that reduces the tax burden of working families earning less than $50,000 per year. Tax volunteers also help clients leverage their refunds over time by offering savings and asset development opportunities at the site. Baltimore CASH Campaign volunteers empower working families in the Baltimore area to build financial stability and economic security.
Duties:
- Meet individually with clients at one of 15 sites across the city and review tax documents
- Prepare tax returns using TaxWise software
- Connect clients to empowering savings opportunities like U.S. savings bonds, CDs and credit union accounts
Qualifications:
- Must successfully complete free tax preparation training
- Must be willing to maintain client confidentiality
- No prior tax experience is required, but an ability to prepare a basic tax return or basic numeracy skills are helpful
- Computer competency
Time Requirement:
- Tax Volunteers must complete 1 – 1 ½ days of training in January, provided by Baltimore CASH
- We ask Tax Volunteers to commit to a minimum of 16 volunteer hours during tax season (January to April)
- Our greatest need for Tax Volunteers is Saturdays when our tax sites are busiest
Training:
- New tax preparers are required to attend one 4-hour orientation AND one 8-hour training
- Returning tax preparers are required to attend one 8-hour training
- Both new and returning tax preparers must pass an open-book IRS certification exam, administered during the 8-hour training day.
Benefits:
- Empower low-income Baltimore families using your professional experience
- Free tax law and tax preparation training, culminating in official IRS certification
- Support from trained tax professionals
- Great professional development and networking opportunity
