[Patrick272]

Has anybody ever done any volunteer tax work for low income families through their school or other organization. I’m having trouble finding a new job and thought I could do something like this so I don’t have a gap in my resume. If anybody can share their experience or just general thoughts I would greatly appreciate it.

AUD-95
BEC-85
FAR-84
REG-76
Work Exp-Need a New Job

[WhoDat15]

Most of the universities around my area participate in the IRS VITA program. Check out this link to see if there is anything near you.

https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Find-a-Location-for-Free-Tax-Prep

I personally never did it, but a few of my friends did it. I think it was just on Saturdays for a couple of months but that may be up to each individual. Hope this helps.

REG - 88
BEC - 85
AUD - 83
FAR - 90

[sarah210]

I did it last spring, and I loved it. I'm also pretty sure that the accounting professor who ran it was responsible for helping me get a (really amazing) job.

You have to take a test to be able to do it, but the test is not too bad. Basically, the people who come to these things for help don't have particularly complicated taxes because they make basically no money. Almost all of them get sizeable refunds, and it's really fun to be able to tell them how much they're getting. The most complicated thing I had to do was itemizing. The person running it will be a CPA and he or she will look over whatever you've done to make sure its right before it is submitted. Everyone I helped last year was so grateful to have you there and were both intimidated by the process of having their taxes done, but curious about the process. They asked a lot of questions, but nothing that you couldn't answer if you have a basic knowledge of individual taxation. I got a lot of questions about why itemizing wasn't always the best choice (for most of them, it isn't). Expect a lot of earned income credits and head of household filings.

REG- 53, 91
BEC- 88
FAR- 62, 85
AUD- 85

Ethics- 93

[Anonymous]

United Way has a program here in Washington State (United Way Tax Prep Campaign) where you can volunteer to do taxes of low-income earners. Like the person said above my post, you'll have to take a two-day class and pass a pretty easy exam and all your work will be checked for approval. As a matter of fact, I have participated in this program in the previous 2 years and my training for this year starts next weekend. It's really great — i have questioned why H&R Block, and other tax-prep companies charge these guys so much for a simple 1040 EZ. pretty sad

Does anyone know at all if volunteer hours for this kind of program can be counted as experience for CPA licensing requirements?

[no.cruncher]

Overall, it is beyond tax experience that you gain because you also build networks, and simultaneously get a very humbling experience.

Not sure if it's offered in your state, but here in IL they have Ladder Up https://www.goladderup.org/

FAR - 7/16/2012 *76 : 2.5mo [Exp. 1/2014]
AUD - 8/31/2012 *82 : 1mo
REG - 11/27/2012 *83 : 2.5mo
BEC - 2/27/2013 *80 : 2.5mo LET'S DO THIS!!!
Ethics - 3/13

[ 2011 Kaplan Self Study - Textbook, MP3s, FlashCards ]

CMA... Hmmm...???

[PhDCPA]

I did VITA for a couple of years. It was a good experience and the people that you help really appreciate it.

[Steven K.]

I did VITA too. It was a really awesome experience and learned quite a bit. I'm sure it can't hurt to put it on your resume either. Probably doesn't count as much as work experience, but better than gaps

[sieverd]

I did the VITA program last year in hopes it would boost my resume for future job opportunities. I received a job offer about a month ago and in two of my interviews, the person I was talking with had experience with that and was a great talking point!

I am doing VITA again this year just because I had such a great experience!

REG: 80 (4/1/13)
BEC: 87 (5/29/13)
FAR: 82 (7/31/13)
AUD: 63, 69, 86 (1/3/14)

"Separation is in the preparation" - Russell Wilson

Using Becker Self Study & Ninja Audio

[Anonymous]

I've done it for the past few years and I really love it! I would caution that your experience will depend on the program coordinators in your area. I worked at a different location one year because I had moved and it was not fun. I still liked the part where I got to help people but it was so badly run and there was never anyone competent around to answer questions (since volunteering a couple nights a week does not make me some kind of tax expert).

[forever4]

@AnnaMay84: OMG I'm going to do it for this coming year too!!!!! Where are you going to volunteer?

FAR 5/14 88 PASSED!
REG 7/13 74 :((((((((....! I cant believe it!!!! I studied so hard...
REG retake 11/29 -> 89!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEC 10/11/12 -> 84!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AUD 10/25/12 -> 95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm DONE! OMG 8 months of hard work.

I SHALL PASS. BECAUSE IT'S ME, SO EVERYTHING WILL BE OK!

[Anonymous]

Awesome!! @forever4 … I signed up to volunteer in Renton but I might have to change locations since my work next month is close to Bellevue

[forever4]

@anna: where is the place that next to bellevue? I signed up for the public library but i would like to do more if the time and location are fit.

FAR 5/14 88 PASSED!
REG 7/13 74 :((((((((....! I cant believe it!!!! I studied so hard...
REG retake 11/29 -> 89!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEC 10/11/12 -> 84!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AUD 10/25/12 -> 95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm DONE! OMG 8 months of hard work.

I SHALL PASS. BECAUSE IT'S ME, SO EVERYTHING WILL BE OK!

[Anonymous]

Bellevue library. I checked the sites where the program will run this year and they are:

Auburn, Bellevue, Beacon Hill, Seattle's Central District, Downtown Seattle, Federal Way, Kent, Lake City, Rainier Beach, Renton, Seatac, Shoreline, Kirkland and White Center.

[Anonymous]

@Patrick272 – I've participated in similar programs through Ladder Up (https://www.goladderup.org/) and it's always been a positive experience. Check it out!

[Anonymous]

I do free tax returns for all of the widows/widowers who want/need free tax return preparation. It's awesome.

I originally thought that I might pick up some tax returns of the family/friends of the widows/widowers but that didn't pan out.

I get a lot out of it and haven't missed any meals lately.

You might check into large churches in your area as they sometimes have people in need who show up there.

[TaffTax]

Here are some other volunteer opportunities (just in Massachusetts), although other states probably have similar websites.

https://www.mscpaonline.org/cpa_resources/volunteer

[Author]

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