Join Our Team!

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a national program staffed by local volunteers that provides FREE preparation and electronic filing of tax returns. Our volunteers help Racine County residents file taxes through VITA.

Volunteers are needed to serve in a variety of roles. Not every role requires tax certification and each role plays a very important part in the success of the program.

Bilingual and Spanish-speaking volunteers are needed for all roles to support local Spanish-speaking taxpayers. Volunteers needed to serve sites throughout Racine County.

Anticipated 2027 sites:

Workforce Solutions, 1717 Taylor Ave., Racine - Mondays, 1-7 p.m.
Racine Public Library, 75 7th St., Racine - Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Thursdays, 2-7 p.m.
RUSD Community Pathways Campus, 2333 Northwestern Ave., Racine - Wednesdays, 1-7 p.m.
Burlington Public Library, 166 E. Jefferson St., Burlington - Fridays, noon-3 p.m.
J.I. Case High School, 7345 Washington Ave., Racine - Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

How Does VITA Benefit...

You?

Gain resume building skills and certificates.
Know your start and end dates for your volunteer commitment.
Build connections with your community and fellow volunteers.
See the direct impact of your work with each client you serve.

The Community?

Provides trusted support through an often stressful task.
Saves each client an average of $200 in tax preparation fees.
Reduces barriers to filing and claiming valuable refundable tax credits that provide financial support to individuals and families.
Returns nearly $2M in refunds to our local economy each year.

What to Expect

A consistent but flexible schedule. In-person VITA sites operate six days a week, including weekdays, evenings and weekends. A commitment of one shift per week is required during tax season, January through April, for in-person volunteering. Shifts range from two to four hours. Virtual volunteer opportunities are available to tax certified volunteers. Virtual volunteers are expected to complete a minimum of three tax returns per week.
A supportive and comprehensive training experience.
- No previous experience is required to be a VITA volunteer. All training is provided.

Volunteer Requirements

All volunteers
- Complete a volunteer application - keep scrolling down!
- Consent to and pass a background check.
- Attend an orientation session specific to your volunteer role.
Client Support Specialists
- Client support specialist (non-tax certified volunteer) orientations and trainings (two hours) will be held in-person at United Way of Racine County, 2000 Domanik Dr., during the weeks of January 4 and 11, 2027.
Certified Tax Preparers
- Tax certification orientations will be held the weeks of November 30 and December 7, 2026. Both virtual and in-person options are available.
- First-year volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend orientations and trainings in person.
- Tax certified volunteers should anticipate dedicating 12-15 hours to train and certify. Certifications must be completed by January 22, 2027.
- There are a variety of training options to help volunteers prepare and certify at their own pace. These options will be discussed at orientation.
  - Tax certification classes (English) are offered both in-person and virtually. Tax certification classes (Spanish) are offered virtually.
    - IRS tax certification materials and resources are only provided in English. Reading comprehension in English is required to be a tax-certified volunteer.
Virtual volunteers
- Additional training provided for virtual volunteers will be held the weeks of January 4 and 11, 2027.

How would you like to volunteer with VITA?

Tax Certified Volunteer

Volunteers who certify to prepare tax returns are qualified to fill a variety of volunteer roles such as tax preparer and quality reviewer. In-person and virtual volunteers opportunities are available.
We provide all training and resources to ensure your success!

Non-Certified Volunteer

Client support specialists welcome clients to the site, support them through the intake process and assist the site coordinator with administrative tasks.
Client support specialists are not responsible for preparation or filing of tax returns and no tax certification is required.

VITA VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

Volunteer information

Legal first name

Legal last name

Middle initial

Prefix

Preferred first name

Preferred last name

Address

City

State

Zip code

Date of birth

Contact information

Primary phone number

This is my

Alternate phone number

This is my

Email address

Alternate email address

Emergency contact information

Emergency contact name

Emergency contact phone number

Emergency contact relationship

Medical conditions/allergies

Terms

I agree to the media release below.

This will confirm that the undersigned, having the sole right to do so, for good and valuable consideration (the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged), grants to United Way of Racine County, to include United Way Worldwide and its affiliated organizations, members, successors, assigns and licensees, a non-exclusive and irrevocable right to photograph, record, reproduce, publish, copyright, or otherwise use my name, photographic portraits or pictures, film, videos, internet postings, or sound recordings or any part thereof that may have been taken of me during United Way events and/or activities in written or electronic format, video or film (Content) for promotional, advertising, or other charitable purposes in any media including the world wide web related to the United Way community impact activities. This also includes any tweets or messages through social media.

I acknowledge and agree that nothing contained herein requires United Way to use any Content as described herein.

I represent and warrant that the consent of no other third party is required to enable United Way to use the Content as described herein, and that such use will not violate or infringe upon the rights of any third parties.

I acknowledge and agree that United Way has the right to assign this agreement and/or the rights herein (in whole or in part) to any party.

I acknowledge that its sole remedy for any breach shall be an action for damages, and irrevocably waive any right to obtain equitable or injunctive relief.

I waive any right of inspection, preapproval, or claims for compensation.

I am of full age and have the right to contract in your own name and have read the above consent and permission and are fully aware of its contents. In the event I am a minor, the signature of a parent or legal guardian is required. I will contact United Way of Racine County to make further arrangements.

This Consent and Release contains the full and complete understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining hereto and cannot be modified except by a writing signed by each party.

I agree to the background check terms listed below.

I understand that my eligibility to be a volunteer is dependent on my background check results. I understand that before I am able to volunteer, I am responsible for submitting my personal information to Sterling Volunteers in order to provide a background check to United Way of Racine County. I certify that the answers given by me to Sterling Volunteers will be complete, true, and correct without misrepresentations or omissions of any kind.

I understand that United Way of Racine County shall not be held liable in any respect if my volunteering is terminated because of false or incomplete statements, answers or omissions made by me on the disclosure form of any other document. In consideration of United Way of Racine County’s review of the document, I hereby release United Way of Racine County, its Board, its agents, as well as all providers of information from any liability and for any damage which may result from the furnishing and receiving of information. A copy of this authorization and release is as valid as the original and should be recognized as such.

If accepted as a volunteer, I understand that I will be expected to keep in absolute confidence any and all confidential information that comes to my attention as the direct result of my volunteer duties.

Want to support VITA? Your tax-deductible donation provides training, resources and support so VITA volunteers can support as many local taxpayers as possible.

Donate

Volunteer

Contact

Volunteer with VITA