Hunter VITA Program Voluteers

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program allows Accounting students (you don't have to be a Hunter Student!) to assist lower income families with their personal federal and state income tax returns. We file their returns elecronically at our sites.
We anticipate an increase in the number of clients that we will be servicing for the tax year 2008. So we need your help!

For students interested in participating as tax preparers in the VITA program, let us know! Please call 212-772-4219 or e-mail huntervita@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IRS Link~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Or you can open another Web Browser or Tab and place this as your link:
http://www.irs.gov/app/vita/index.jsp

Updated November 17, 2009 -VITA Information/Recruitment will be on Saturday, November 21, 2009 in Room HW1538. Please check out Events/Calendar Page for more information. The Society is well aware that it is on a Saturday, but Hunter College’s Classrooms are pretty much booked for the semester, leaving us little to no choice for this date. In this meeting, we will be discussing the seriousness and commitment needed and expected of all the volunteers.

Words from the Secretary:

"When recruitment starts, I, Alex (Shi Qi) Shen, will be in charge of ALL your contact information. When you email us that you’re interested, PLEASE WRITE DOWN YOUR FULL NAME AND EMAIL, or I will NOT add you to the system (that also goes for volunteers who plan to walk into the office to sign up). Also, please note that you will often be emailed during the winter for training, so expect to check it at least 2X a week. If you do not want streams of the latest information sent to your email, your only source will be to check the website for events and updates (the slower way)."

-PLEASE NOTE: You’ll be completing BOTH the BASIC and INTERMEDIATE levels. We will be releasing the IRS VITA Books during the meeting, and we HIGHLY ADVICE that you come get them, as they will be tremendously helpful in preparing for you for the exam and tax season. We understand that many of you can’t make it on that day, so we’ll be ready to hand them out on the weekdays during our Office Hours as well. However, as for the material and discussions we’ve discussed during the meeting, not everything will be covered and written down for a Note Update.
-REMEMBER: You only have 2X to take this exam: Don’t rush it. Please come to us and ask for help, or work in a group. This exam is DEFINITELY not something you have to actually study for, but you'll need the book and perhaps some friends to help out. Teamwork is always good.
-Look at in the front page of our website for any quick update/words regarding VITA if you feel you do not need to read everything that has been going on.

Updated November 1, 2009
-As hosts of VITA 2009, the Accounting Society would like to all VITA Volunteers to pass both the Basic AND the Intermediate Exams on the IRS Link. It's not that we're trying to give you more work, but this would be a good way for everyone to know more about the Tax system, and also to bring about more accuracy when preparing and reviewing returns. The link is provided so that you may start early and review some of the modules in there for practice prior to taking the exam, as you only have 2 chances to pass. Volunteers can begin taking the test on the first week of November. We will have a meeting soon this month or early December regarding VITA. It's recommended to go and get more information before you go take the exam.
-After completion of the exam, we need you to print out the Certificate and Volunteer Agreement to the Office at HW 1538. You have until December 27, 2009 to hand in all forms.
-Books/Pamplets on the VITA Materials will be distributed to POTENTIAL Volunteers (because it's always a shortage) on November. The date is TBA.
-VITA Shifts for Spring 2010:
        Monday: 6:00PM-9:00PM
        Tuesday: 6:00PM-9:00PM
        Thursday: 6:00PM-9:00PM
        Saturday: 11:00AM-2:00PM

Words from the Vice President:

"We have the dates for the Training Sessions for January, but we're still working out the details with the IRS Representatives, so it's in everyone's best interest to avoid the confusion. I just hope everyone knows that we will need you to avoid making too many plans on the weekends on that month, as the training usually lasts the whole day."

PLEASE IGNORE EVERYTHING BELOW THIS LINE.

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Volunteer Hour Requirement

1. 35 Hours of volunteer work is required.

    Preparing basic tax returns will take place February 2nd until April 14th 2009.

    VOLUNTEER ATTENDANCE FOR THE LAST TWO (2) WEEKS OF THE TAX SEASON IS MANDATORY.

    This means that you will have to show up for April which falls on Spring break.

Please plan your schedule accordingly.

Shifts Schedule During Tax Season 2008

2. As a volunteer in the VITA Program, you will have the choice to pick a shift during the week that best fits your
schedule.
The minimum requirement is one shift per week but you are welcome to volunteer in as many shhifts as you would like.

  Hours of Operations are as follows*:

Monday 6:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Thursday 6:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Friday 6:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Saturday (AM) 10:00 A.M. -1:00 P.M.
Saturday (PM) 2:00 - 5 P.M.

When you sign up for the shifts, you must stay and commit to your time!

So, if for example, you pick Monday, you are expected to show up for your shift every Monday for the duration of the tax season. If you are unable to show up on your designated day, please email us in advance so that we can arrange to have someone else cover for you on your shift. You will then have to make up your hours on a different day.

Note: We are closed on Feb. 12th, Feb 16th and March 2nd.

There will be change in location @
March 5 Thurdays
March 26 Thurdays
April 2,3,11 Thurdays, Friday, Saturday.
Subject to room change.

*Volunteers are required to show up at least 15 minutes before their shift duty at the Accounting Society office (HW1538) to sign the timesheets. Volunteers are also required to sign out after completion of each shift.

IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED AN EMAIL REGARDING YOUR FINAL SHIFT ASSIGNMENT, PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY!!

Failure to follow instructions may disqualify you from receiving IRS certification.

If you have any additional questions or comments, please email us @ huntervita@gmail.com