Inside: Tax Time Savings Webinar, FSA Toolkit and More!
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From the Editor
Dear John,
We’re crazy for you! And crazy for taxes! This month, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we want to take the time to show some love to the amazing volunteers, site coordinators and program managers that make up the great VITA program. Even if you don’t fall into one of these categories, thank you for all you do in support of the VITA program and the people we serve!
As the filing season ramps up, be on the lookout for weekly editions of the Tax Prep Dispatch [[link removed]] featuring tools, tips and information to help maintain our high-quality standards. And as you encounter challenges, or have general questions about your peers’ experiences and solutions, the Tax_Roundtable listserv [[link removed]] is the best way to instantly connect with peers across the country.
Please be sure to share our newsletter and invite your partners to join the Taxpayer Opportunity Network [[link removed]] and stay engaged with us throughout 2020!
Many Happy Returns!
Rebecca M. Thompson
Project Director, Taxpayer Opportunity Network
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
Leo Buscaglia
Spotlight: Evaluating Savings Behaviors Webinar Coming Soon!
If you’ve had a keen eye on our mailings, you’ll know about our latest report: “ Evaluating Tax Time Savings Interventions and Behaviors [[link removed]].” This report summarizes nine months of research exploring the effectiveness of tax time savings interventions, as well as the savings behaviors, outcomes and financial well-being for tax filers across three separate platforms: the VITA program, online tax filing through Turbo Tax Free File Product (TTFFP) and SaverLife’s saving program. Join us for a webinar on February 20 to learn more about the report, research and findings, and what it means for your work and the families you serve.
Be sure to register [[link removed]] for the webinar and we look forward to sharing with you soon!
Updates from the Network
VITA & The Census
As trusted resources in your communities, VITA programs and volunteers are in the perfect position to encourage people to complete their census forms once they are done with their taxes. Community Action Partnership has developed a toolkit [[link removed]] with the information and resources you need to ensure that you and your volunteers are informed and comfortable talking about the census.
FSA Toolkit
If you’re still mystified by the Facilitated Self-Assistance (FSA) options for clients and how one, or several of them, can be seamlessly integrated into your program, we’ve compiled a short FSA Toolkit [[link removed]] to help guide you. It includes instructions on how to obtain a custom URL (so you can get credit for the returns) as well as a matrix showing some of the basic questions and qualifications for each product!
America Saves Week 2020 is OPEN!
America Saves Week is February 24 - 29, 2020. Hosted by America Saves since 2007, the week is an annual celebration and a call to action for everyday Americans to commit to saving successfully. Through the support of thousands of participating organizations, together we encourage our local communities to do a "gut-check" on their finances and saving behaviors.
Sign up for America Saves Week 2020 [[link removed]]!
New CFPB Report Released
The CFPB has released a new paper [[link removed]] following its Tax Time Savings cohort of 75 VITA programs from 33 states and Washington, DC. This paper covers the newest findings from the cohort and the types of tools, resources and training that are on the cutting edge of the tax-time financial capability sphere.
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
The Center on Budget & Policy Priorities’ Get It Back Campaign and CASH Campaign of Maryland launched a new tool [[link removed]] to help self-employed workers calculate their estimated tax payments.
Tools and Information for the FieldUpdates from the IRS and SPEC
Quality Alerts Now Live!
If you've got any questions or missed any of the IRS Quality and Tax Alerts, you can find them here [[link removed]]! The first Quality Site Requirement Alert [[link removed]] of the year surrounds Quality Site Requirement #4 so be sure to read about it!
TaxSlayer Partner Call Schedule
You can join your fellow tax preparation partners and TaxSlayer representatives to help answer your questions during the filing season.
The call schedule is listed below. Each call will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET.
Each call has a unique dial-in, so please use the following numbers:
February 13, 2020Dial-in: 888-251-2949Access Code: 3719634#February 27, 2020Dial-in: 888-251-2949Access Code: 2364004#
Site Coordinator Corner
The filing season is here! Be sure to get your site coordinator materials ready by going to the IRS SPEC Site Coordinator Corner here [[link removed]]!
IRS SPEC Partner Webcast Schedule
Click here [[link removed]] to get the full 2020 schedule for IRS SPEC Partner Webcasts to ensure that you stay up-to-date on the latest news and resources from IRS SPEC.
Reminder: TaxSlayer Suggestion Box
The VITA/TCE Suggestion Box is designed for you to share your feedback and ideas on the software that will assist you in servicing your taxpayers. Click here [[link removed]] to submit your suggestions.
Latest Tax Prep Dispatch
What's New with the Forms? [[link removed]]
December 5, 2019
What's New? [[link removed]]
November 5, 2019
I Hereby Pledge [[link removed]]
October 4, 2019
Voter Registration at Tax Time [[link removed]]
August 30, 2019
What's Going on with Form W-4? [[link removed]]
July 25, 2019
Browse older editions of the Dispatch [[link removed]]
Learning OpportunitiesUpcoming Learning Opportunities
Evaluating Tax Time Savings Interventions and Behaviors [[link removed]]
February 20 | 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Learn more about our latest tax time savings research and how it applies to your work! Register today for this webinar!
Making Tax Time Work for Everyone: Strengthening Tax Credits for Working Families [[link removed]]
February 6 | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | United States Capitol Visitor Center
Prosperity Now and Tax Credits for Workers and Their Families, with the support of H&R Block, will bring together policymakers, tax time researchers and community tax preparers on Capitol Hill for a lunchtime discussion on ways to continue strengthening the tax time moment.
If you have ideas for future learning events, stories or resources, contact us at
[email protected] [[link removed]].
Recent Webinars and Events
2020 Prosperity Now Scorecard Data Launch [[link removed]]
This webinar kicked off the 2020 Prosperity Now Scorecard now complete with city, county, metro area, Congressional District and tribal area levels!
Don't Spin Your Wheels: VITA-Train Year 2 Launch [[link removed]]
The VITA-Train has pulled out of the station! Check out this webinar to get the scoop on the most recent VITA-Train!
Lunch and Learn Series: Volunteer Management Software [[link removed]]
Each hour-long session focused on both a peer-led lens and a presentation from the software vendor which culminated in an interactive question and answer session with attendees.
V for Voters and VITA [[link removed]]
Find out more about the Voter Filer Registration project and how you can implement it at tax time and your site!
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