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Dear John,

Do you hear that? That’s the sound of another filing season whizzing past us! Thank you to all of the VITA volunteers, staff and program partners for successfully navigating an incredibly challenging filing season. It is your dedication and commitment that makes the VITA program as strong as it is today. In the time I have been a part of TON, we’ve grown our VITA federal funding by $18 million, connected more than 7,000 members to our resources and created exciting projects like the VITA-Train [[link removed]], Start the Savings Toolkit [[link removed]] and more. All of this would not be possible without your support.

Beyond looking back, we are excited for what’s in store in the coming months. First, we have our Tax Season Debrief on June 1 from 2 – 3:30 p.m. ET [[link removed]]. This 90-minute, “call-in” show shines the spotlight on you and your peers in the tax preparation field. You will not want to miss out on this event. Second, the End of Season Survey will go live in early June. Please answer the survey to help us capture your experiences and reflections on the filing season and the support and resources TON provides. If you want a sneak peek at the survey, check it out here [[link removed]].

Please encourage your volunteers and partners to join TON so they can stay up-to-date on what’s happening in the community tax preparation field.

We Made It!

Rebecca M. Thompson, Director, Field Engagement & TON

“The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.”

— Albert Einstein

Spotlight: Tax Season Debrief Registration Live!

This filing season has been one for the history books! As we’ve navigated a full season of pandemic tax preparation, there has been no shortage of successes, challenges and fascinating stories along the way. The Taxpayer Opportunity Network team is looking forward to hearing from you during our annual Tax Season Debrief [[link removed]] on June 1 from 2 – 3:30 p.m. ET. This 90-minute, interactive “call-in” show gives you a chance to hear from your peers in the tax preparation field. In years past, we’ve seen poems, riddles and tax jokes – so you do not want to miss out [[link removed]] on this debrief! We will not provide a full recording of the webinar, but we’ll be sure to share any notes with all registrants.

Updates from the Network

End of Season Survey Released Soon!

Keep an eye out next month for the End of Season Survey. The data you provide helps TON make the case for VITA with our national, state and local partners. Please take a chance to review the survey draft [[link removed]] so you’ll be ready to answer the survey. We appreciate all of the help you provide, and we’re looking forward to getting a clear picture of the VITA landscape later this summer.

GetYourRefund.org Volunteer Opportunity

GetYourRefund is looking for volunteers to mobilize a national effort for postseason filing. This effort, known as the National Tax Justice Service Team, needs your help. Join this effort today by filling out the interest form [[link removed]]. Thank you for your help on this project, and we’re excited to get started!

CBPP Outreach Materials

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ Get It Back Campaign has released a new  Toolkit for Stimulus Check Outreach to Immigrant Families [[link removed]].  It features a media guide, talking points, sample social media posts, flyers, a radio PSA script, text message and email. The toolkit is available in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish and Vietnamese. In addition to families with immigrants, the toolkit can be used through the remainder of the year to connect with harder-to-reach populations such as families with no or low incomes, families with a member who is incarcerated, people who lack secure housing, people without Internet access and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) communities.

VITA Leadership Institute Resources

Are you ready for the next VITA Grant Application Cycle? The VITA Leadership Institute Resource page [[link removed]] is live with fully updated worksheets to help with your VITA grant and program planning. You can check out the cultivated resources from the cohort and use them for your own program as you prepare for your VITA grant application and with your planning for next filing season.

Virtual VITA Toolkit

Need help tackling the Virtual VITA process? Prosperity Now has developed a Virtual VITA toolkit [[link removed]] with the resources and supports to help you transition to Virtual VITA. The toolkit addresses elements of the Virtual VITA process from both the client and volunteer perspectives. Check it out today!

MyFreeTaxes

MyFreeTaxes.com is still live for 2021. You can use the link for the direct MyFreeTaxes site [[link removed]] and the partner portal [[link removed]]. Check out MyFreeTaxes and share with your community today!

EIP Guide

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau updated their guide on the three Economic Impact Payments in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Tagalog. This guide [[link removed]] answers a series of FAQs based on the newest tax law information, all in one convenient location.

Second Stimulus Check FAQs

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

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published a blog [[link removed]] 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 [[link removed]] 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 and 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 [[link removed]] and a guide to the 1099-G Form and how different states deliver it [[link removed]].

Self-Employment Tax Calculator

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

Knights of the Tax Roundtable

Knights of the Tax Roundtable [[link removed]] puts a face to the names you see on the Tax Roundtable and brings answers to your burning tax hot topics.

Tools and Information for the FieldUpdates from the IRS and SPEC

VITA Grant Application Window Now Open

The 2022 TCE and VITA grant window is open until June 4. If you’re interested in applying for a VITA grant, check out IRS Publication 4671 [[link removed]] for complete instructions. You can also check out the VITA [[link removed]] and TCE [[link removed]] webpages on IRS.gov and Publication 1101 [[link removed]] for TCE for more information. If you have questions, or would like thought partnership on your grant application, we are offering Office Hours [[link removed]] to support you. Schedule time here [[link removed]].

TaxSlayer Support Info:

Please use the following information to create a support ticket with TaxSlayer this filing season:

Phone: 1-800-421-6346

Email: [[email protected]]

Support Hours (Beginning April 16):

Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET

Also, be sure to check out the TaxSlayer VITA/TCE Blog [[link removed]] for important software updates.

IRS SPEC Partner Webcast Schedule

Click here [[link removed]] 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.

Link and Learn

The online certification and tax law curriculum from IRS SPEC is available for use by VITA/TCE volunteers. This Fact Sheet [[link removed]] and Volunteer Tax Alert [[link removed]] provide important information necessary for certification.

TaxSlayer Suggestion Box [[link removed]]

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 [[link removed]]. Your feedback is needed for both federal and state returns, as well as reports.

Learning

OpportunitiesUpcoming Learning Opportunities

2021 Tax Season Debrief [[link removed]]

June 1 | 2 – 3:30 p.m. ET

Join our 90-minute “call-in” show to cover the ups and downs of this past filing season. We’re excited to hear from you so come in ready to share!

Ensuring and Expanding Access to Alternative Tax Preparation Services Fireside Chats [[link removed]]

Join the Prosperity Now team and our latest cohort on the hottest topics in the tax preparation space for three fireside chats in June.

Session 1: Volunteer Management for Alternative Service Delivery – June 10 | 3 p.m. ET

Session 2: Alternative Service Delivery and Client Outreach – June 15 | 3 p.m. ET

Session 3: Engaging Partners in a Coalition to Advance your Cause – June 28 | 3 p.m. ET

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

Recent Webinars and Events

The ARPA Opportunity Webinar [[link removed]]

This webinar hosted by our partners at Commonwealth tackles some of the opportunities to come from the American Rescue Plan Act. Topics covered include the role of FinTech, financial security and more.

Virtual Advocacy

Want to get started on virtual advocacy, but don’t know how to start [[link removed]]? To find resources for effective advocacy at every level, visit our Prosperity Now Advocacy Toolkit [[link removed]].

How Tax Policy Can Help Low-Income Americans’ Pandemic Plight [[link removed]]

Feb. 26, 2021

In this episode of Tax Notes Talk, Rebecca Thompson of Prosperity Now, discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected low-income communities and families of color in the United States, and what tax policy tools could help them.

VITA Leadership Institute Year One Analysis [[link removed]]

Oct. 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 [[link removed]]

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 [[link removed]]

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 Off-season [[link removed]]

July 1, 2020

Reset Button [[link removed]]

May 1, 2020

Non-Filers 101 [[link removed]]

April 15, 2020

Alternative Service Delivery Tips! [[link removed]]

April 6, 2020

Signed, Sealed, Delivered? [[link removed]]

March 30, 2020

The Drop-Off Process [[link removed]]

March 19, 2020

COVID-19 and VITA [[link removed]]

March 13, 2020

Browse older editions of the Dispatch [[link removed]]

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