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Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Contra Costa Volunteer Application

Come Volunteer for Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Contra Costa

In order to fax or mail your application, please use our printable version (126k PDF, 1p.)

Learn more about Earn It! Keep It! Save It!

You can help working families and individuals in your community file taxes, claim credits and build their assets! By assisting them, you will:

Gain a marketable skill
Help low-income families and individuals achieve greater economic security
Expand your resume and help your community
Help workers bolster the economy

Who will I be helping?

You will help workers with earnings of approximately $42,000 or less claim the tax credits they're owed for the 2007 tax year. Based on our experience last year, you can help boost a family's or individual's annual income by an average of $1,100. Many low-income workers are eligible for tax credits but without help, many workers won't collect them.

Do I need to have experience as a tax preparer to help?

No. Volunteer tax preparers will be provided with the training they need to prepare taxes and file returns.

Brief training will be provided to volunteers who greet clients and review paperwork before clients meet with volunteer tax preparers. Volunteer tax preparers will be provided with approximately 20 hours of training in December and January. Volunteers can attend training sessions on Saturdays or do their training online if they volunteered last year. For online training, visit www.irs.gov and type "Link and Learn" in the IRS Keyword field. The deadline for submitting volunteer applications is December 15.

If you don't want to prepare taxes, but can help interpret Spanish, Vietnamese, Mien, Lao and other languages, we especially need your help.

Where will I work as a volunteer?

You'll volunteer at one of more than a dozen Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in Contra Costa County. Every effort will be made to place volunteers in the site of their choice. You can also elect to work in Alameda or San Francisco counties.

What kind of commitment is required?

Volunteers must make a minimum commitment of 16 to 20 hours and can schedule regular weekly shifts throughout tax season or work two or three full Saturdays any time between January 27 and April 14, 2008. Some sites will be open during the day, evening hours on weeknights or during the day on Saturdays. Bilingual volunteers also are needed as interpreters and tax preparers. Greeters and screeners are needed, as well.

Apply now

Volunteer Form (United Way)

Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Contra Costa is sponsored by United Way of the Bay Area, Contra Costa Health Services, Employment & Human Services Department, First 5 Contra Costa, the Internal Revenue Services and the Richmond Works/City of Richmond