VITA Volunteer
Help our community file for free
It's in the name–Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA. Volunteers are the backbone of our VITA program, helping people maximize their refunds and access important tax credits and deductions.
In 2024, VITA volunteers in our area donated 3,008 hours to this important economic mobility program. These volunteers were able to help our community file over 2,000 returns with over $2.8 million in refunds.
Your Volunteer Benefits
Volunteering with our VITA program is a high-impact and rewarding volunteer experience! Whether you're a college student wanting to build skills, a retiree with extra time to give, or a community member looking for an opportunity to make a difference, VITA is a meaningful way to invest your time in our community.
As a volunteer tax preparer, here are a few of the benefits:
- In-person and virtual training and IRS certification (October to January)
- Connections with new people in our community
- Transferrable hard and soft skills for career building and personal development
Clinics are usually scheduled in 4-hour blocks Monday through Saturday, offering flexibility to our volunteers. Hours vary, but most clinics occur between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. We visit every library branch in Spartanburg County and the library headquarters in Cherokee and Union counties.
ROLE Opportunities
Greeter & Screener
- Does not require tax law certification
- Greets everyone visiting the site, screens taxpayers to determine the type of assistance they need, and confirms they have the necessary documents to complete their tax returns
Interpreter
- Provide free language interpreter services to clients who are not fluent in English (Spanish and Russian most needed)
- Basic tax knowledge is helpful, but it is not required for this position
Site Coordinator
- Conduct quality reviews and electronically file returns prepared at the site
- Help ensure adequate coverage, supplies, and equipment at the site
- Tax law certification is required for this position
Quality Reviewer
- Reviews tax returns completed by volunteer tax preparers, ensuring that every taxpayer receives top-quality service and that the returns are error-free
- Must be tax law certified at least at the Intermediate level
READY TO VOLUNTEER?
List of Services
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1. Sign Up!List Item 1
Click below to complete the registration to receive more information.
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2. Attend TrainingList Item 2
Becoming a VITA volunteer can be intimidating, but don’t worry! We’ve developed a process to keep everything as straightforward as possible. Click below for more details on training–coming soon!
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3. Complete CertificationList Item 3
All VITA volunteers are required to take the Volunteer Standards of Conduct Exam, regardless of their role in the VITA program. Once you feel comfortable with the tax preparation process, follow the link below to start the certification process.
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4. VolunteerList Item 4
Once you have completed your certification, you can start to volunteer! Register for shifts through our Better Impact volunteer portal–coming soon!