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Home › Partners › Ways to Get Involved › Host a Tax Preparation Site

Host a Tax Preparation Site

VITA sites are located at non-profit organizations, churches, libraries, community centers and agencies. If you are interested in becoming a VITA site, please email us at info@atlantaprosperity.org. Each year the IRS and the Atlanta Prosperity Campaign assess prospective sites June 1--September 15. The decision to add a new site is based on criteria such as the location of the new site, other VITA sites already in the community, areas of greatest need, and how well the potential site meets VITA specific criteria and APC program goals. Even if your organization is unable host a VITA site, there are many other opportunities available for you and your clients to participate in the program.

In order to become a VITA site, there are certain criteria that each site must adhere to, including:

Site Location

  • Provide a space to conduct free tax preparation services. The space should be large enough to allow for separate waiting and tax preparation areas in order to maintain client confidentiality and accommodate all volunteers and necessary equipment.
  • Be accessible by public transportation
  • Provide one contact person (employee) for all operations at the site
  • Provide at least one person to perform Site Coordinator duties. Each Site Coordinator must be IRS-certified at the Advanced Level.
  • Provide necessary internal IT support to ensure each VITA computer has access to the internet. If the site has a firewall, ensure each computer has access to the tax preparation website.
  • Provide computers and printers for VITA use. Ensure that the computers to be used for tax preparation meet minimum system requirements. (The APC may be able to provide some equipment.)

Volunteers

  • Ensure that the Site Coordinator has attended the following classroom training prior to the tax season:
    • In-class Site Coordinator training
    • In-class tax law training
    • In-class TaxWise software training
  • Recruit enough volunteers to provide tax preparation and in-take, as necessary to ensure appropriate volunteer coverage during the established hours and days of operation.
  • Ensure that volunteers are in compliance with volunteer training and participation requirements as set forth by the APC and IRS.

VITA Operations

  • Operate the VITA site in accordance with IRS requirements and regulations, including timely submission of all necessary volunteer and site forms.
  • During the tax season, open for VITA services for at least one month. While open, the site must operate for at least two days during the week or at least a total of four Saturdays.
  • Determine hours and days of operation that will ensure maximum benefit for the target population.
  • Process a minimum number of efile federal tax returns during the season (If the minimum number of returns (125 for Tax Season 2010) are not processed at the site, the IRS and APC will make a determination if the site will return as a VITA site in future years).
  • Allow APC access to tax data in order to generate demographic data reports.
  • If site chooses to operate on an appointment only basis, the site agrees to provide a contact person and telephone number which is manned on a live basis during set hours to take appointments.

Marketing/Promotion

  • Promote the VITA program to its clients and community-at-large, via newsletters, special events, e-mail blasts to clients/employees, etc.

Other

  • All New Sites must submit a Letter of Intent to the APC no later than September 30.
  • All new sites must apply for an EFIN to the IRS no later than October 15.
  • If the site is in non-compliance with any of the responsibilities listed in this document, the IRS and/or the APC will make a determination if the site should be closed down or if it will return as a VITA site in future years.