From the Editor

Dear John,

Summertime fun is in full effect, but things haven’t slowed down here at the Taxpayer Opportunity Network! It was great seeing our Network Steering Committee at our annual in-person meeting last month. We enjoyed the opportunity to engage in fruitful discussions about VITA and we’re so excited about the future!

Speaking of in-person, I look forward to seeing you in September at our 2019 VITACon in Denver, CO. We’re working hard to make sure we provide a worthwhile and resourceful experience for you. Make sure you register now—spots are filling up quickly! Thanks to our generous sponsors, we have a few travel stipends available for those in need of financial assistance in getting to VITACon. You can complete the application here!

ICYMI: We're celebrating the passage of VITA permanence into law! We want to thank you for your help in this process! Read our blog post to find out what else you can do to help VITA going forward!

Celebrating our Independence!
Rebecca M. Thompson
Project Director, Taxpayer Opportunity Network

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

- Nelson Mandela

Spotlight: End of Season Survey

We want to hear from you! As we reflect on the 2019 filing season, and look toward 2020, honoring our commitment to be the most helpful resource possible to the tax preparation community depends heavily on where you need our support. Tell us about your experiences, your impact, the helpfulness of our resources and how you’d like to get more involved with TON by completing this 10-minute post-season survey. The deadline for completion of the survey is Friday July 19, 2019.

Here’s a PDF file of the survey if you’d like to take a peek before you get started and some additional details to help you fill out the survey:

The survey should only be filled out by one person per tax preparation program, ideally a site coordinator or manager.
In addition to the survey questions, we kindly ask that you share client demographics data which can either be directly uploaded as a report or filled out manually.
Make sure that your tax site results are readily accessible during completion of the survey. This includes number of EITC, number of returns filed and client AGI.

We sincerely appreciate your time and effort in working with us to augment VITA’s impact. And congrats on another successful tax season!

Updates from the Network

VITA Permanence Update
I’m sure you have already heard, but we finally did it! VITA Permanence is officially codified into law, allowing for up to $30 million in finding. A special thanks to our TON partners who advocated for VITA on the Hill during our NSC meeting and for your dedication to advocating for VITA throughout the years. We couldn’t have done this without you. Check out the newest blog post from our Field Engagement Intern about her experience advocating for VITA on Capitol Hill.

All Call for VITA-Train Updates
We need your help! After the success of the VITA-Train, we need volunteers to help update the content and flow of the training program. If you're interested, please email us at [email protected].

Share Your Stories!
As a part of the 50th Anniversary for VITA, the Taxpayer Opportunity Network team is excited to share some of the faces and stories of VITA volunteers across the country. If you have memorable volunteers, please email the Taxpayer Opportunity Network team here. We want to hear from you—so send over your stories!

America Saves Best Summer Ever Bucket List Challenge:
Win prizes for saving on summer activities! Throughout the month of July, America Saves will be collecting photos and videos of low- to no-cost summer fun activities and awarding those who are having fun while saving. Read more here.

Tools and Information for the Field

Self-Employment Tax Calculator
The Center on Budget & Policy Priorities’ Get It Back Campaign and CASH Campaign of Maryland launched a new tool to help self-employed workers calculate their estimated tax payments. A part of the Roadmap to Rideshare Taxes project, the tool presents a snapshot of the user’s upcoming tax year after asking eight questions.

Updates from IRS and SPEC

IRS SPEC Partner Webcast Schedule
Click here to get the full 2019 schedule for IRS SPEC Partner Webcasts to ensure 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 to submit your suggestions.

Latest Tax Prep Dispatch

Foreign Student Returns
June 28, 2019

Can You Complete This VITA Crossword Puzzle?
May 10, 2019

Tax Triage 2019
April 12, 2019

QBID: Now What?
April 4, 2019

Browse older editions of the Dispatch

Learning Opportunities

Lunch and Learn Series: Volunteer Management Software
In this special six-week Lunch and Learn series, TON will give you the opportunity to explore each management software while hearing from the vendor and your peers in the field on how they use it to maximize the volunteer experience!

Here are the dates in July!

July 17 | 12 - 1 PM ET
July 24 | 12 - 1 PM ET
July 31 | 12 - 1 PM ET

Save the Date for VITACon 2019!
VITACon 2019 will be here before you know it! Save the date for September 10-11 in Denver, CO. This two-day event will bring together new promising practices, tools and resources. Plus, we’ll have a party to celebrate VITA’s 50th anniversary so you don’t want to miss it!

Recent Webinars and Events

Q Is for Quality
January 17, 2019

The Taxpayer Opportunity Network team is committed to providing the crucial quality tips and solutions to help you maximize your quality rates going forward! Check out this webinar and see how new forms impact your tax season.
Slides | Recording

Looking Ahead: The Future of EITC and Working Families
November 15, 2018

During this peer discussion, we heard from field and institutional leaders who have pushed EITC state initiatives forward.
Slides | Recording

2018 Prosperity Summit
September 5-7, 2018

Whether you missed it, or want to revisit the information presented, all of the presentations from the Prosperity Summit are available on the mobile app and website.

Taxpayer Experience Map: A Simple Customer Journey Map for VITA Programs
September 12, 2018
Hosted by: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
Slides | Recording | Worksheet