Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Volunteer Program

VITA Volunteers help put money back into the community for vulnerable, low-income taxpayers.  The VITA teams in the County of San Diego prepare more than 30,000 tax returns, and Dreams for Change has contributed 10,000 of the tax returns praperd. Money that individuals get back are used to pay off debts or in a family dynamic, are used to help support children.

The VITA Volunteer program is a great opportunity for community members to offer free tax preparation for those in need. Volunteers undergo an IRS-certification training to learn how to complete taxes, and then work at various locations to assist clients. The services are free to the community and give back money that individuals and families deserve. No prior experience or training necessary!

Opportunity Requirements & Important Notes

• Time Commitment: 16 hours of training and 2 hour shifts (as often as the volunteer would like) over the course of 13 weeks

• Onboarding Process: Volunteers will need to complete a FREE IRS-certification training offered by Dreams for Change. No prior tax experience or knowledge is necessary. This year, the training will be during the first and second week of January, as tax season begins later that month, located at Dream's for Change's office in Kearny Mesa. They also offer training during the weekends after tax season has started for anyone who cannot make the previous classes.
  
  The training takes about 16 hours and will introduce you to the tax filing system and how to properly complete taxes. You are welcome to use your own computer for this, it is an online system and nothing needs to be downloaded. If you cannot attend training in-person, you can be certified online and Dreams for Change will send materials for that as well, although they highly suggest completing the training in-person. If you know enough people at your school, work, or organization that are interested in volunteering, they can bring the in-person training to you.

• Ideal Skills/Experience: Bilingual, accounting, tax preparation

• Attire: Volunteers will be located at various mall sites, they can wear casual but appropriate clothing.

• Location: After training, this volunteer opportunity will take place at four mall locations in Escondido, Mission Valley, Plaza Bonita, and El Cajon. Volunteers can select the location most convenient to them.

About Dreams for Change

The mission of Dreams for Change is to respond to the needs of communities by creating innovative and cost-effective programs to empower and stabilize the lives of underserved families and individuals.