Irvine, CA (September 24, 2024) – Orange County United Way’s OC Free Tax Prep program is returning for the 2025 tax season and is seeking volunteer tax preparers to help Orange County residents take another step towards achieving financial stability. No prior experience is required to become an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteer.
The OC Free Tax Prep program, established in 2005, is part of Orange County United Way’s United for Financial Security℠ initiative to empower Orange County families to build stable, self-sufficient lives and break the cycle of poverty.
“At the heart of the OC Free Tax Prep program are our dedicated VITA volunteers. Last year, our volunteers prepared over 13,620 tax returns and made a total community impact of $21.3 million,” said Andrew Fahmy, Executive Director, United for Financial Security initiative of Orange County United Way. “As a volunteer, your time and skills can make all the difference in helping local Orange County families keep their hard-earned money. We need you!”
All volunteers are required to complete and pass the online Volunteer Standards of Conduct training and certification requirements based on their role. Volunteer roles include:
- Greeter: This role consists of welcoming clients and making sure they have all the necessary documents and paperwork.
- Tax Preparer: Required to complete tax preparation trainings and must pass certification exams prior to serving. *Newly certified volunteers will be paired with a mentor and receive guidance from the site coordinator.
- *Exams are online, self-paced, open-book, and multiple-choice.
- Quality Reviewer: This role consists of reviewing tax returns for accuracy, advising that taxpayers are responsible for the information on the tax return, and explaining the refund and credit amounts.
- Interpreter: Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Farsi, Arabic and Mandarin bilinguals are needed.
Online and in-person training sessions led by an IRS-certified VITA instructor will be available in November and December 2024 and early January 2025. All volunteers, new or returning, are required to complete training and certification sessions. Volunteer hours are available during day, evening, and weekend shifts at locations all over Orange County. A full list of locations and volunteer hours will be announced later this year.
During the 2024 tax season, OC Free Tax Prep prepared 13,629 tax returns, making a total local impact of $21.3 million. With the support of 473 volunteers from 35 partner organizations, a total of 17,509 hours were committed to providing tax preparation services and outreach to low- to moderate-income individuals, families, seniors, and those with limited English proficiency.
“When I retired and got involved with the Tax Program, it gave me a good sense of giving back to the community. And that gives me a really good feeling. It’s a very valuable service for the community,” said Barbara Harris, a VITA volunteer.
To learn more about becoming an OC Free Tax Prep volunteer and to track for the volunteer training locations, please visit: https://ocfreetaxprep.com/volunteer/ or email [email protected].
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY UNITED WAY
Orange County United Way is committed to breaking barriers and improving lives for everyone who lives here. Through our key initiatives—United for Student Success℠, United for Financial Security℠, and United to End Homelessness℠—we are working to ensure local students succeed, families gain financial security, and our unhoused neighbors find a place to call home. We also offer vital support via 2-1-1 Orange County (211OC), a key service that connects thousands of our most vulnerable residents with health and human service resources. We are committed to caring for one another. That’s #TheOCWay.
This year, Orange County United Way celebrates 100 years of purpose and impact in Orange County. To learn more or discover how you can help, visit UnitedWayOC.org.
Orange County United Way is a standalone, independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
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Media Contact: Annie Noebel, [email protected], (949) 449-2527
