Vita Volunteer Opportunities
JOIN US as a VOLUNTEER TAX PREPARER for the OC Free Tax Prep program! The program offers free tax preparation services in Orange County through the IRS’ volunteer program, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
Imagine helping someone put food on their table or saving a family from a mortgage foreclosure. As a VITA volunteer, you will help low-income individuals and families keep their hard-earned money!
VITA Volunteer Roles
Orange County United Way VITA volunteers can choose their role.
- Greeter: Welcomes taxpayer, ensures that taxpayer brought the required documents, and explains the process of the appointment and what to expect.
- Tax Preparer: Interviews taxpayer and prepares federal and state tax returns using IRS software.
- Quality Reviewer: Reviews tax returns for accuracy, advises that taxpayers are responsible for the information on the tax return, and explains the refund and credit amounts.
- Interpreter: Interpreters aid taxpayers by working alongside the taxpayers and tax preparers. Spanish/English bilingual and American Sign Language volunteers needed.
Register or Get More Information
To register or learn more, please submit the form below. We will get back to you shortly with more information and next steps.
Register or Get More Information
To learn more, please email us at ocvitavolunteer@unitedwayoc.
VITA Certification
Orange County United Way and the IRS offer free in-person and online VITA training for new and returning volunteers.
Don’t worry! Exams are self-paced, open-book, multiple-choice. All VITA volunteers must pass the IRS’ Volunteer Standards of Conduct Training (Ethics) certification. To prepare tax returns in the IRS’ VITA program, you must also pass a tax preparation certification. Online testing is fast and efficient. Volunteers who do not pass the test the first time may review the course material and try again. This year, two (2) days of training is REQUIRED and available via Zoom.
Learn more about the VITA certification and training process.
To get started, you can check out the IRS training resources at:
Are You Ready to Volunteer?
Thank you for your interest in serving our community together. Fill out the form above for more information or to register as a VITA Volunteer with the OC Free Tax Prep Campaign.