Updates from the Network

Support FY23 VITA Funding at $35 million   

VITA funding for next year is off to a great start in the appropriations process— the House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee released their draft 2023 funding bill last week calling for VITA funding at $35 million! As this bill makes its way through Congress, we must continue to fight for increased funding for this critical program. Please email your Members of Congress and ask that they support increased VITA funding at $35 million!      

The TON End of Season Survey Needs Responses!  

The Taxpayer Opportunity Network provides the most relevant and useful information and opportunities for community tax prep programs. Therefore, we need you to take the Taxpayer Opportunity Network End of Season Survey. The responses you provide help TON staff understand who you are, the people you serve, the services you offer, and the support you need to manage volunteers, design your programs, reach your clients, and fundraise for your program. We are asking that only one staff member per organization take this survey and we recommend you have your tax season data and client demographics on hand. Please take the survey and share your thoughts and insights on this tax season!  
 

Tools and Information for the Field

Resources from the Network 

GetCTC is now officially available to residents of Puerto Rico! 

For the first time, Puerto Rican residents can now use simplified filing to claim federal tax benefits! A Spanish-language demo of the Puerto Rico functionality is available here. 

VITA-Train | Prosperity Now

VITA-Train includes streamlined VITA training modules to make things easier for you and your volunteers to become certified. Each module is available to download in either PowerPoint or pdf format.  

Virtual Advocacy Toolkit| Prosperity Now

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

CFPB Resources| Consumer Financial Protection Bureau  

Your Guide to Filing Your Taxes in 2022: These resources include all things tax from the expanded Child Tax Credit, Economic Impact Payments and ways to file. These are ideal as a client-facing resource so check it out today.   

Resources from IRS/SPEC and TaxSlayer  

IRS SPEC Partner Webcast Schedule  

Click here to get the full 2022 schedule for IRS SPEC Partner Webcasts to ensure that you stay up to date on the latest news and resources from IRS SPEC.    

TaxSlayer Support Information  

Phone: 1-800-421-634  

Email: [email protected] 

Blog: Be sure to check out the TaxSlayer VITA/TCE Blog for important software updates. 

TaxSlayer Suggestion Box  

Share your thoughts or ideas on how TaxSlayer could be improved using the VITA/TCE Suggestion Box. Your feedback is needed for both federal and state returns, as well as reporting.    

Learning
Opportunities

Upcoming Events

Camp Prosperity| Prosperity Now| July 12-26, 2022  

On Tuesday July 12th, Prosperity Now kicked off the first session of our three-week virtual series. We will be joined by advocacy experts to cover:  

• The New Change Agent: Federal, State, & Local Advocacy in an Election Year | Tuesday, July 12 |2:00-3:30 pm EDT  
• Permission to Engage: Equipping Ambassadors to Advocate for Change | Tuesday, July 19| 2:00-3:30 pm EDT  
• Equity to Justice: Reimagining Strategies for Community-Driven Solutions| Tuesday, July 26| 2:00-3:30 pm EDT  

Internal Revenue Service and Federal Trade Commission Presents: Scams, Tax Related Identity Theft and Identity Protection PIN| July 20,2022|2pm EDT 

The Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Trade Commission is sponsoring a free webinar designed to help everyone recognize and combat tax scams and tax-related identity theft. The webinar will also explain how any individual taxpayer can receive an added layer of identity protection by applying for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) from the IRS. 

Fireside Chat with the Foundation for Financial Planning: Expanding Client Wealth with Volunteer Certified Financial Planners| Prosperity Now & Foundation for Financial Planning| July 27, 2022| 3:00- 4:00 pm EDT  

Join us for a Fireside Chat with Jon Dauphine, the CEO of the Foundation for Financial Planning, and Katie Taylor, where we will discuss how volunteer Certified Financial Planners can work with nonprofit organizations and their clients who may otherwise not be able to access this resource. During this Fireside Chat, we want to hear from you about how Financial Planning volunteers can take your clients to the next level and supplement your savings, financial coaching, financial security and community tax programs. There is limited space for this event – only 25 spots! Sign up here to reserve your spot (first come, first served basis). Anyone unable to attend can learn more by visiting ProBonoPlannerMatch.org or by contacting Rachel Roth, Director of Programs at the Foundation at [email protected]. 

2022 Prosperity Summit | Prosperity Now| September 19-22, 2022 

Prosperity Now will host the biannual Prosperity Summit from September 19-22 in Atlanta, Georgia. The three-day conference is an opportunity to present, network and workshop with 1,500 attendees around the year’s theme of Marching On: Reimagining Economic Justice for All, where we will embrace the long history of civil rights leaders and action from the Georgia community and unite around the call for economic justice. 

Community Free Tax Prep Job Opportunities 

• Taxpayer Opportunity Network Intern| Prosperity Now 

• Pro Bono/Training Coordinator| Center for Taxpayer Rights 

• VITA Operations Manager| United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades