Updates from the Network

VITA Awareness Day Story Collection 
We want to hear from you! The TON team needs your help to gather stories and testimonials for VITA Awareness Day. We want to hear how VITA is impactful for yourself, your community, and how it has changed during the pandemic. Click on the questionnaire link and fill out as many responses as you wish. The VITA field continues to grow but we always want to hear from a personal perspective!    

Virtual VITA Resources 
Need help tackling the Virtual VITA process? Prosperity Now is here to provide a new toolkit with all of the elements you’ll need for Virtual VITA. The toolkit tackles the process of Virtual VITA from both the client and volunteer perspective. Check it out. 

Enhanced Data Collection 
Are you interested in learning more about your clients and how the COVID-19 public health crisis has impacted their sense of financial well-being? Sign up for our Enhanced Data Collection project to receive survey questions that will help you learn more. This year, the survey will be available online and via printable format.  

All aboard! The VITA-Train is here! The revamped platform provides training at the Advanced Level certification through our modular learning process. In addition, modules feature conversations with the updaters to share their thoughts on the module and what volunteers can expect. Feel free to explore the modules and to supplement your training where you see fit. We’ll be updating the VITA-Train for new content (Extenders, Practice Returns, etc.), so be sure to stay tuned for any update releases.  

MyFreeTaxes is Live!
MyFreeTaxes is now live for 2021. You can use the link for the direct MyFreeTaxes site and the partner portal. Check out the new links today.    

Second Stimulus Check FAQs 
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ Get It Back Campaign has new resources on the second stimulus checks, stimulus eligibility for immigrants and what to do if someone didn’t get their first or second stimulus checks. Stay tuned for additional stimulus/Recovery Rebate Credit materials. 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published a blog on the Recovery Rebate Credit, EITC lookback and reasons to file. Be sure to pass this on to your partners.
 
RideShareTaxHelp is Now Live! 
RideSharetaxHelp.com is updated for the 2021 tax filing season. This project of the Get It Back Campaign and CASH Campaign of Maryland provides comprehensive guidance on tax filing for Uber and Lyft drivers. Tax info for food couriers will be added soon.

Unemployment Benefits & Taxes 
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ Get It Back Campaign has new resources to help people understand taxes and unemployment benefits: a guide to paying federal, state, and local taxes on unemployment benefits and a guide to the 1099-G Form and how different states deliver it.  

Self-Employment Tax Calculator 
The Get It Back Campaign and CASH Campaign of Maryland have updated their estimated payments calculator that is part of the Roadmap to Rideshare Taxes project. This tool helps self-employed workers calculate their estimated tax payments.   

Lookback Resources 
Our partners at Commonwealth developed a brand-new messaging toolkit on the “lookback.” These messages are perfect to promote and plug into your program and come in both English and Spanish. Check out the new toolkit and pass on the latest information to your stakeholders.    

Knights of the Tax Roundtable
You don’t want to miss out on the most recent Knights of the Tax-Roundtable on the tax season kickoff. Knights of the Tax-Roundtable puts a face to the names you see on the Tax-Roundtable and brings answers to your burning tax questions.   

Tools and Information for the Field

Updates from the IRS and SPEC

TaxSlayer Support Info 
If you need to call in a support ticket to TaxSlayer this filing season, use the following information:  

Phone Number: 1-800-421-6346
Email: [email protected] 

Support Hours: 
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to Midnight ET 

Saturday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET 

Sunday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET 

Link and Learn is Now Live! 
The online certification and tax law curriculum from IRS SPEC is now live and available for use for VITA/TCE programs. Check out the Fact Sheet and the Volunteer Tax Alert to get the information necessary for certification.  

TaxSlayer Partner Call Information
Join in on the February call with IRS SPEC and other field partners: 

February 25, 2021 
1-2 p.m. ET Dial-in: 888-251-2949 or 215-861-0694 
Access Code: 1329665# 

Get Ready for Taxes 
The IRS has created a special page on IRS.gov, outlining steps taxpayers can take now to prepare for the 2021 tax return filing season ahead.    

News Updates: Form 1040-X E-File 
Taxpayers will now be able to file the Form 1040-X for amended returns. Given the current environment, this is invaluable for clients. Please read the IRS press release here.   

IRS SPEC Partner Webcast Schedule  
Click here to get the full 2021 schedule for IRS SPEC Partner Webcasts to ensure that you stay up-to-date on the latest news and resources from IRS SPEC.

TaxSlayer Suggestion Box  
Do you have thoughts or ideas on how TaxSlayer could be improved to help you run your sites more efficiently and make it easier to prepare and file more quality returns? Share them in the VITA/TCE Suggestion Box. Your feedback is needed for both federal and state returns, as well as reports.  

Learning
Opportunities

Upcoming Learning Opportunities

Four-Part Advocacy Network Calls

Beginning Tuesday, January 26, Prosperity Now policy experts launched a series of one-hour calls to discuss our 2021 federal policy priorities and what these policies would mean for your community and hear your thoughts and questions. The schedule for the calls is as follows:  

• Tuesday, January 26, at 2 p.m. ET: Right-Side Up Tax policy priorities (past event)  

• Tuesday, February 9, at 2 p.m. ET: Financial Security policy priorities (past event) 

• Tuesday, February 23, at 3 p.m. ET: Affordable Homeownership policy priorities 

• Tuesday, March 9, at 2 p.m. ET: Consumer Protections policy priorities 

Don’t delay and sign up for the remaining sessions!  

Tax Time Allies Webinar 
March 3, at 1 p.m. ET 

Join the Tax Time Allies to learn about the top three actions all low- and moderate-income taxpayers should take this year so that they can maximize their refunds and quickly receive federal benefits like EIPs. We will also share new tools that are available to you to spread the word about programs that will help your constituents get their taxes done safely and for free. 

Virtual Advocacy
Want to get started on virtual advocacy, but don’t know how to start? Join our advocacy campaign to thank legislators for the full VITA funding at $30 million. Let your members of Congress hear from you and how important VITA is to your community. Every dollar counts for VITA programs, so please sign on today. To find out more, check out our blog post on the VITA funding effort. 

If you have ideas for future learning events, stories or resources, contact us at [email protected].   

Recent Webinars and Events

VITA Leadership Institute Year One Analysis 
October 22, 2020 
After a successful VITA Leadership Institute, we want you to join us in sharing our results and how we plan on moving forward. This is a can’t-miss event for newer programs wanting to get an inside look at all aspects of a great VITA program.  

TON COVID-19 Listening Session 
April 28, 2020 
We’ve broken down the most impactful resources from our national partners around COVID-19 as well as the new GetYourRefund.org virtual VITA pilot.  

Evaluating Tax Time Savings Behaviors Have you ever wondered what tax time savings and behaviors look like on the national scale? Well, wonder no more because the Taxpayer Opportunity Network is here to provide you with the answers. 

Latest Tax Prep Dispatch

The Shrinking Offseason
July 1, 2020 

Reset Button
May 1, 2020 

Non-Filers 101
April 15, 2020 

Alternative Service Delivery Tips
April 6, 2020 

Signed, Sealed, Delivered?
March 30, 2020 

The Drop-Off Process
March 19, 2020 

COVID-19 and VITA
March 13, 2020 

Browse older editions of the Dispatch