Please help – We need MORE Asset Building Volunteers!

Here’s a note from Jessica Cook, a former VISTA who is now the Coalition’s Asset Building Program Coordinator:

Our Financial Coaching program, “Strengthen Your Financial Future,” is really taking off and we would love to have more financially savvy volunteers come help us keep up with the ever growing demand. And let’s not forgot about the Credit Advising Program that’s about to start up again for this tax season. With almost 1600 credit reports reviewed last year, the need for volunteers is a surefire bet.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for one of these roles please visit our website for more information or e-mail me at Jessica . Cook . jcs @cityofboston.gov.

Thanks,

Jessica Cook
Asset Building Program Coordinator

 

New 2010 Flyer! (Plus our last 2009 newsletter)

We officially have a shiny new flyer. We’ve just tidied up all the contact info on it, and we’re sending it to the printer now… at which point we hope to get it all across the city in time to prevent people from PAYING to have their taxes done, or, even worse, PAYING a portion of their refunds to get a Refund Anticipation Loan… *gasp*! Seriously, even Wikipedia thinks those things are predatory.

So, hopefully we can get this thing out earlier than ever this year, and avoid having people give up any of their hard-earned refunds!

In the meantime, here’s a copy for your viewing entertainment. Or, if you feel like printing it out and posting it somewhere, you’re welcome to do that, too – we definitely encourage that. All the sites, including new ones, are on the back – check us out!

EITC Coalition 2010 flyer

And, speaking of awesome, here’s our November/December e-newsletter, as promised. It’s full of information on how to sign up for volunteer trainings, what to do if you’re a returning volunteer and don’t feel like attending another beginner training session, and the story behind all the new sites for 2010.

Nov/Dec 2009 EITC newsletter

 

Frustrated with the website registration process? Call Craig.

Yes, we’re having some issues surrounding volunteer registration and signing up for tax prep classes.

Yes, you should send me a brief description of your problem to bostontaxhelp@gmail.com.

THEN, call me at 617-803-1679 and hound me until we FIX it.

Website Registration Alert:
(bostontaxhelp.org)
12-3-09

We are currently experiencing a variety of problems with volunteer registration and the tax training sign-up.  If you are having ANY issues, please send a brief email describing the problem and then call Craig at 617-803-1679.  I will work to with you to achieve a solution within 24 hours. Thanks

 

Brand new!! Intermediate level trainings now open

For those of you who are interested in going the extra mile (and for those of you supergenius volunteers who already know all this stuff anyway), we are now offering certification at the intermediate level!

This will be the first year that the Coalition has offered intermediate level trainings and testings. An intermediate level VITA certification will allow volunteers to prepare returns containing:

• simple small businesses and the Schedule C-EZ,
• itemized deductions and the Schedule A,
• and certain retirement/pension income and the 1099-R.

Good news: signing up for an intermediate training is pretty simple – just visit our volunteer website, create an account, and pick a day and location that works for you – and voila! Even more good news: these trainings are only 4 hours long.

Note: you must complete the beginner certification test before attending an intermediate training.

Other note: Returning volunteers do not necessarily need to attend a beginner level training in person; all that is required is to pass this year’s certification test, which you could technically do online via the IRS’s Link n Learn practice lab site. We are recommending, however, that returning volunteers do come in to a testing session in person, in order to receive updates about changes in the tax law due to this year’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

 

Site coordinator position open at DotHouse

This just in:

Dotwell is looking to hire a site coordinator for Dorchester House for the upcoming tax season. This position would be an excellent fit for someone who has volunteered with us before. Have extra time on your hands? Have experience in tax preparation, or VITA programs? Interested in a part time gig this spring?

Call Doreen Treacy for more details at 617.822.8120.

 

The training schedule is UP!

I’ve been getting requests from some of you eager beavers for this year’s volunteer training schedule… and I am so happy to finally be able to tell you our volunteer tax preparer training schedule is now up! Thanks to VISTA Matt Lewis, who worked late into the night a few nights punching it all in, every single training date – weekends, weekdays, at sites all across Boston from now until early 2010 – are online, for your signing up convenience.

The Coalition is using a new volunteer management website this year. For those of you that were used to VolunteerHub, we promise this will be worth your time to create a new account – this new site is going to make your (and our) lives a lot easier. (Well, that, and, you don’t really have a choice. But this site is cooler. So, there’s that.)

So, go, visit our new MTAC website, create an account, and voila! All our training dates are at your disposal. Sign up at will!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Also, note: we will be sending out our November/December e-newsletter shortly. If you’ve just tuned in, and we don’t have your email yet, let me know! Christina. McRorie. JCS @ cityofboston.gov

Enjoy your t(of)urkey, everyone.

 

New sites in Dorchester and Roxbury!

The Boston EITC Coalition is pleased to inform you that it just got bigger! We are very, very, very excited to introduce a few new partners and sites for tax season 2010:

–> Way of the Cross Holy Church in Dorchester (at 65 Ashton Street, to be exact), a member of the Black Ministerial Alliance,

–> Morgan Memorial Goodwill in Roxbury (1010 Harrison Ave, site of Goodwill’s nifty Boston Career Link as well),

–> WORK Inc in Dorchester (some friends of ours, starting up a first year site for AbilityOne employees at their new digs),

and two new ABCD satellite sites at

–> ABCD Dudley in Roxbury (195 Dudley Street), and

–> ABCD Talbot in Dorchester (551 Talbot Ave). ABCD has the whole story behind these new sites here.

So, basically, starting right now, Roxbury and Dorchester will be more covered than ever with free tax preparation and the host of other fun services we try to provide at Coalition sites.

Note to volunteers – not sure where you want to serve? Keep some of these brand new sites in mind as you go to training… they’d love to have you.

– Your (ever expanding) Boston EITC Coalition

 

Triple Header – Three Events This Week to Meet the Boston EITC Campaign 2010

Before we go on Thanksgiving break, Boston Cares will be hosting two information sessions for you to “Meet the Coalition” and get more information about how to be an EITC volunteer:

The Tuesday and Thursday events are sponsored by our partner Boston Cares. If you need to be bribed with free coffee, you can wait until Saturday morning and join Craig Far at the Atomic Bean Cafe in Central Square, Cambridge for the answers to your volunteer questions.

Join Boston Cares and the Boston Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition in educating low- and moderate-income wage earners about maximizing their tax returns through the Earned Income Tax Credit. The Campaign is entering its eighth year of providing free tax preparation to low- and moderate-income taxpayers and increasing EITC awareness.

During the tax season of 2009, Boston’s EITC Campaign served over 12,000 households to return $17.2 million in refunds to taxpayers. Volunteer opportunities are available to help clients prepare tax returns, pull credit reports, and enroll in public benefits programs such as food stamps and health insurance. Any volunteer is welcome, and bilingual volunteers are needed. Comprehensive training is provided.

Atomic Bean Cafe 904 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139

November 17th from 6:30-8:00pm. Boston Cares, 190 High Street, 4th Floor- Boston

November 19th from 6:00-7:30pm. Arlington Street Church, 351 Boylston St. Boston

This project is open to the public. You may participate by registering with Boston Cares.

http://www.bostoncares.org

This Saturday —

Free coffee @ Atomic Bean Cafe– 904 Mass Ave. Cambridge (Central Square)– Sat. 11.21.09 9:30am-10:30am — Unofficial Boston EITC volunteer recruitment info session with Craig Far.

Sneak preview of our (sort-of) new 2010 outreach flyer…
bostontaxhelp@gmail.com or call me with questions. CF

 

Free coffee at Atomic Bean Cafe – EITC info session this Saturday

David Fieldhouse recently opened his new coffeehouse after nearly a year of renovation. He’s a big promoter of local community and I’m happy to spread the word to help his business.

Drop by this Saturday to see for yourself and maybe ask a few questions about the Boston EITC Campaign. – Craig

Free coffee @ Atomic Bean Cafe: 904 Mass Ave. Cambridge (Central Square)– Sat. 11.14.09 9:30am-10:30am — Unofficial Boston EITC volunteer recruitment info session with EITC Volunteer Coordinator Craig Far. Sneek preview of our (sort-of) new 2010 outreach flyer…
bostontaxhelp@gmail.com or call me with questions. CF

Boston EITC info session - Free coffee @ Atomic Bean Cafe - Cambridge, MA