Our goal is to help 4,000 families receive refunds that will reinvest millions of dollars in Greater New Haven. To do that, we need 100 volunteers.

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) providers offer free tax preparation for individuals and families earning less than $50,000 a year. A low-income family that qualifies for the maximum federal and CT Earned Income Tax Credits could receive over $7,000 from filing their return.

There are several organizations working together in Greater New Haven to provide free tax return assistance to households from January through April. As a volunteer, you can identify the organization that meets your needs (location, scheduling, etc.)

• For all VITA volunteers, a minimum commitment of 4 hours per week is requested during the tax season, in addition to 12-16 hours of classroom or online training for Tax Preparers.

• All volunteers should have good communication skills and be comfortable working with diverse populations.

• Bilingual volunteers (e.g., Spanish, Haitian Creole, Polish, Portuguese) are in especially high demand.

• Any volunteer helping with paperwork will be required to complete training.

Benefits of Volunteering with VITA

• Gain personal satisfaction from providing an important service to your community!
• Develop lifelong skills and build your resume with free IRS training and materials.
• Choose from a variety of volunteer locations, dates and times that are convenient to your schedule.
• Rest assured that all volunteers are protected under the Volunteer Protection Act, which means no liability for volunteers.
   

Get Started 

There are several different types of volunteer opportunities available, from tax preparers and screeners to VITA greeters.  Each VITA provider sets their own location and hours for services, and makes FREE IRS-certified training available to their volunteers.  Use the information below to identify a VITA provider that best meets your availability and interests. Or, you can go to http://ctvita.volunteerhub.com and be matched with a VITA site that best meets your needs.

View VITA Locations in a larger map

For more information on being a VITA volunteer, please contact Sarah Dunn, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at United Way of Greater New Haven, at vita@uwgnh.org or (203) 691-4213.

Spread the Word

Download the VITA Volunteer Flyer for distribution.  Read and share the editorial in the New Haven Register.

(Video) The IRS on the Power of VITA

Find out how you can Receive FREE Tax Prepration.

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