[Hiring] Tax Site Preparer and/or Quality Reviewer @International Rescue Committee

Role Description

The IRC’s Program Quality and Innovation Unit assists offices which help newly arrived refugees and other low-income individuals reach self-sufficiency by:

• Finding entry-level employment and progressing to living wage jobs
• Learning basic financial management skills and building assets
• Starting small businesses
• Accessing Earned Income Tax Credit

Under the supervision of the Tax Site Coordinator and Financial Coach, Volunteer Tax Preparers will provide free, professional tax preparation services for low-income clients through IRC’s National Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The program is offering services to clients in IRC offices located in:

• Phoenix, AZ
• Denver, CO
• Elizabeth, NJ
• New York, NY
• Dallas, TX
• Salt Lake City, UT

The IRC’s goal is to assist 4,000 taxpayers in preparing their returns in a safe, culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.

Responsibilities

• Tax Preparation
  • Complete all IRC and IRS mandated trainings by January 2027, including:
    • Volunteer Standards of Conduct Training and Ethics
    • Volunteer Standards of Conduct certification
    • Intake/Interview & Quality Review certification
  • Gain Basic certification to prepare taxes; Advanced certification is preferred.
  • Prepare only returns that are within your certification level(s) and within the scope of the VITA/TCE Programs.
  • Prepare and provide high-quality tax returns to all taxpayers.
  • Interview taxpayers using Form 13614-C to determine if all income, deductions, and allowable credits are claimed.
  • Engage the taxpayer when preparing the tax return to ensure understanding of the information on the intake sheet.
  • Advise the taxpayer that he/she is ultimately responsible for the information on the return.
• Quality Review
  • Conduct a quality review on all returns using the Quality Review Checklist found in Publication 4012.
  • Ensure all items are consistent with the entries on the tax return.
  • Advise the taxpayer that he/she is ultimately responsible for the information on the return before asking the taxpayer to sign Form 8879 or the tax return.
  • Provide feedback to volunteer preparers explaining identified errors captured during quality review and instructions for making the necessary corrections.

Learning Objectives

• The volunteer will learn how to effectively coordinate the VITA program.
• The volunteer will learn about providing financial services to community members.

Requirements

• High school diploma required; students studying finance, accounting, or a related field preferred.
• No previous experience as a VITA volunteer required – IRC will provide the required training for the program per IRC’s and the IRS’s policies.
• Excellent customer service skills, including experience working with a diverse client base.
• Strong organizational skills and high level of attention to detail.
• High level of computer literacy.
• High level of comfort and effectiveness in working with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong commitment to economic empowerment of low-income and underserved populations.

Working Environment

• Position will require travel to IRC office or other tax preparation location.
• Standard, professional office environment.
• Some evening and weekend work hours will be required.
• If working virtually, home internet and personal computer/laptop required.

Professional Standards

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on:

• Safeguarding
• Conflicts of Interest
• Fiscal Integrity
• Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation

IRC is committed to taking all necessary preventive measures and creating an environment where people feel safe, and to taking all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.