Volunteer Opportunities with CASH for Community Empowerment
Join CASH, a community coalition dedicated to financial security, in volunteering roles like Front Desk Support, Office Support, and Tax Preparer. Gain valuable skills, help others, and make a tangible impact. Benefits include building relationships, learning new skills, and being part of a nationally recognized program. Make a difference today!
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CASH- Volunteers 7/17/2024 1
Who Are We? Who Are We? Community Coalition convened by United Way in 2002 Empire Justice Center is our Parent Organization 40 Coalition members comprised of: human service agencies banks, credit unions Colleges Local government Foundations and other Nonprofits IRS Mission We empower people with the greatest need to obtain financial security
Part of a National Effort Part of a National Effort 240 IRS sponsored VITA sites nation wide Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Millions of returns processed by volunteers Coalitions throughout NYS (CA$H) Asset Building, Financial Coaching
Benefits of Volunteer with CASH Benefits of Volunteer with CASH Give Back to Your Community Work directly with our clients Help people in our community See your impact immediately Learn New Skills or Build Upon Current Skills Interact with a diverse group of people Free Tax Training can help in your personal life knowledge is power Customer Service/People Skills Great Resume Builder Volunteer Service looks great on a resume. Tax Preparation Certification in a unique skill set. VITA/CASH are part of a Nationally-recognized program Employment and Internship References Meet New People Make New Friends/ Relationship Building Experience Meet Community Members and Agencies Great resources for continued community connections, community service and/or employment opportunities
CASH Volunteer Roles CASH Volunteer Roles Front Desk Support Office Support Tax Preparer
Front Desk Support Front Desk Support Skills: Welcoming, Empathetic, Detail Oriented, Multitasker Comfortable engaging in a conversation that you tailor to the individual situation of each client Tasks: Great clients at the site and get them signed in Provide intake documents Organize client paperwork for Tax Preparers Training: Required 2-hour class Intake information and procedures Customer service and client management Front Desk Manager support
Office Support Office Support Skills: Welcoming, Empathetic, Good listener Able to enter information accurately and possess good attention to detail. Comfortable with computers Tasks: screen for eligibility and necessary tax documents Aid clients with paperwork complete paperwork Assist with scheduling client s appointments Data entry and other office duties Training: Required 2-Hour class Intake information and procedures Customer service and client management Other office needs
Tax Preparer Tax Preparer Skills: Good listener / detail oriented Able to learn independently using online tools. Able to enter information accurately and possess good attention to detail. Tasks: Screen and review intake sheet and all tax documents Prepare Federal and NYS tax return Training: On-line training for general tax concepts Offered workshops on unique topics
In person process for clients In person process for clients In Person Drop Off will be restricted to those unable to use Virtual and/or requiring interpretation services On the day of their pickup appointment, client comes to the Central Library Client comes to the Central Library Client leaves Client gets COVID screening by library staff Screener makes an appointment for pick up Client gets COVID screening by library staff Checks in with CASH s front desk on the 4th floor Screener goes over paperwork and make photocopies Client leaves with a physical copy of their return Checks in with front desk Goes over their return with a Tax preparer. Client fills out paperwork Screener calls client to the back Client signs return
Virtual process for clients Virtual process for clients Shift to Virtual Drop Off as primary service delivery method CASH Volunteer goes over their return with them Clients virtually signs their paperwork Client got to CASH s website Client keeps electronic copy of their return Receives virtual tax return Client fills out paperwork online Waits for 5-7 days for CASH staff to call them to go over paperwork Waits up to 2 weeks for return to be completed
VOLUNTEER WEBSITES C.A.S.H. Training Page digital training materials http://www.empirejustice.org/cash/cash- training-center Volunteer Hub Sign-up for training/volunteer shifts http://cash.volunteerhub.com/ TaxSlayer Practice Lab site to do watch instruction videos, complete practice returns and returns for test. https://vita.taxslayerpro.com/IRSTraining/ IRS Test Site site to put in test answers www.linklearncertification.com/d/
If you haven If you haven t already, register as a Volunteer t already, register as a Volunteer Create and Control your volunteer schedule on Volunteer Hub Web-Based platform volunteers MUST use to: Register for training Sign up for shifts at site Receive CASH communications Make sure you include the email address you use the most and check at least twice a week for CASH information emails! Please go to : www.cash.Volunteerhub.com
On-Line training on CASH Training Page https://empirejustice.org/cash-training-center/
Step in the process Step 1: Review CASH Review CASH Operations Overview Slides Step 2: Complete NYS Mandated Sexual Harassment Training Step 3: Complete Language Access Training Step 4: Download/Pick Up Training Materials Step 5: Complete Online Training Each item has videos, downloadable files, and other information. Step 6: Complete IRS Certification Test Step 7: Complete background check Step 8: Attend an Onboarding session Step 9: Complete Online Training Evaluation Survey
Training/Reference Materials Pub 4012 Main Reference Guide for Tax Preparation Pub 6744 Test/Retest Booklet Additional help TaxSlayer Practice lab https://vita.taxslayerpro.com/IRSTraining/en/Account/Access IRS link and learn https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/ Helpful Hints for Tests
On-Line Training Federal (Review all 12 Modules) Modules from Prosperity Now https://prosperitynow.org/vita-train New York State CASH Video that explains NYS Tax Input and difference between NYS and Federal CASH & TaxSlayer Finishing the return and TaxSlayer Input
IRS Certification Test Test in PUB 6744 3 tests Volunteer Standard of Conduct Intake and Interview Basic or Advanced Tax Certification Input test into IRS Test Site https://www.linklearncertification.com/d/ Will have to set up an account Recommend to complete test in test booklet and then put answers into test site
Sending Certification DO NOT SEND Follow instructions to send Volunteer Agreement - Send completed agreement to sbonkowski@empirejustice.org
Instructions to Create an Account in TaxSlayer Instructions to Create an Account in TaxSlayer Practice Lab Practice Lab Go to TaxSlayer Practice Lab at the following URL: https://vita.taxslayerpro.com/IRSTraining/en/Account/Access Enter the following Password in that initial screen: TRAINPROWEB In the Sign In screen click on the Blue Create Account button. In the :Create Account screen: Type in your Email address Confirm your Email address Create a Username (1st Initial,LastName,TRAIN example: JEXAMPLETRAIN) NOTE: If the Username you select is available a GREENbox will appear with the word Available Create a Password (Initials,16,DDD example: JJE16DDD) Confirm Password In the Program Type select VITA from the dropdown menu Leave the Site Identification Number (SIDN) blank In the Password Recovery section, select a Question and enter an Answer Write down your Username, Password, Password Recovery Question and Answer Be sure and watch videos before practice session
Questions? Questions? Lee Ana Hess, Volunteer Program Manager Phone: (585) 900-1678 email: lhess@empirejustice.org Ellen Oberton, VITA Program Manager Phone: 585-900-1013 email: eoberton@empirejustice.org Thank You
