Who We Are Our mission at CFED is to make it possible for millions of people to achieve financial security and contribute to an opportunity economy.
How do we do it We push to expand innovative practical solutions that empower low- and moderate-income people to build wealth. We drive policy change at all levels of government. We support the efforts of community leaders across the country to advance economic opportunity for all.
Lee Davenport Principal, Davenport Consulting
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance - VITA Vulnerable populations claim valuable tax credits Provide tax preparation to eligible taxpayers Increase quantity of taxpayers served Volunteer-led tax preparation Facilitated Self-Assisted Tax Preparation Empowered taxpayers navigating tax system Expanded service population/minimize cost New clients aware of your CBO and its related support Create segmentation for different TP service needs
Defining Ideal FSA Clients Words to describe Ideal Client Regular access/use of email Simple return Young Tech savvy or tech comfortable Someone who shops online Characteristics of Ideal Clients Young (Age 20-35) W-2 Income Single Filers Claiming EITC and CTC 1st time filers College students
Those with ACA/health insurance questions Those afraid/unwilling to prepare their own taxes Filers claiming America Opportunity Credit: Taxpayer s understanding of status as a dependent Complexity in reporting appropriate costs of education Clients starting Defining on another Other platform FSA Clients but unable to finish
Role of FSA Resources Required Volunteer Recruiting & Training Marketing & Messaging Optimizing Client Flow Reporting Requirements
Role: Connecting with younger audience in computer lab settings, incorporating it into new educational partnerships. Resources: Repeat Business, once the TP tries FSA, they generally like it and will do it again. They do just fine. Volunteers: Volunteers complete certification with FSA. Are patient, encouraging and new to VITA Marketing: Defining Leverage the large Other email FSA with Clients prewritten email they distribute. Client Flow: Stand alone sites at community colleges and workforce locations. Reporting: Collect your data onsite
How are you best solving for system efficiencies? Do you consider FSA efforts in opposition with VITA? Can you use FSA as a tool to improve financial outcomes? Defining the Other FSA Clients
MyFreeTaxes FSA Overview CFED Exploring Facilitated Self Assistance and Virtual VITA September 21, 2016
Agenda 1. What is MyFreeTaxes? 2. What is the MyFreeTaxes Helpline? 3. Where can you use MyFreeTaxes? 4. How can I promote MyFreeTaxes? 5. Frequently Asked Questions
What Is MyFreeTaxes? Operating since 2009 Currently operated by United Way Worldwide Federal and State returns for all 50 states Powered by H&R Block Facilitated Self Assistance MyFreeTaxes Helpline
What is the MyFreeTaxes Helpline? VITA Advanced Certified Agents at select United Way 2-1-1 call centers Operates January October 15 Mon Sat during main tax season For MyFreeTaxes users only (not TaxSlayer VITA questions, etc)
Where can you use MyFreeTaxes? VITA sites at kiosks Tax fairs, events Student centers Workplaces At home
How can I promote MyFreeTaxes? Register for free on the MyFreeTaxes Partner Portal Access promotional materials, program data, and tools Use posters, banners, social media tools Stay tuned for training webinar Will be recorded and saved to Partner Portal Count MyFreeTaxes returns under your VITA grant Think of areas underserved by VITA sites Think of tech-savvy people who may not normally come to VITA sites
Frequently Asked Questions Doesn t TaxSlayer have an FSA option now? Yes but only for on site use. MyFreeTaxes can also be used on site, but is a great option for remote FSA Is it really free? Yes for eligible filers, federal and 3 state returns can be filed for free How many people use MyFreeTaxes? 196,000 filers in 2016. You can find details for your community on the Partner Portal Can only United Ways promote MyFreeTaxes? Anyone can promote MyFreeTaxes Can filers import their data from last year? Yes the H&R Block software can import from prior years
For more information: www.myfreetaxes.com partners@myfreetaxes.com Matt Aliberti, Director Impact, United Way Worldwide 703-836-7112 x503 Matthew.Aliberti@uww.unitedway.org
Thank you
The Food Bank For New York City Innovative use of Technology for VITA
Food Bank s Free Tax Program Since program inception in 2002, we have filed tax returns for more than 600,000 low-income New Yorkers, and secured over $1 Billion in tax refunds for our clients. We were able to reach these numbers assisting filers through: Traditional VITA FSA-Facilitated Self Assisted Virtual VITA
Program Platforms Traditional VITA 72,565 FSA-Facilitated Self Assisted - 8,247 Virtual VITA 11,343
Food Bank s FSA Program What: Self Preparation, coaching, platforms Who: Computer savvy mostly younger, Facebook, mobile phone app user Where: VITA sites (Large waiting time) *triage the line Libraries, Community Colleges, Schools, Creative Partnerships like work force development programs with computer labs How: Data (all cumulative) * suggestion use entry portal we use Salesforce Collect information you need before launching them onto platform Secure URL Use home portal (give-away s magnets, mouse pad etc.) Why: One coach many returns, one to many, Lower cost use existing resources Empowering, don t give them a fish, teach them how to fish *What are Challenges Not everyone is ready to go onto self-assisted Data is limited and connectivity to other programs
Food Bank s Virtual VITA Program It s an innovative model within the Food Bank s VITA Program utilizing technology to connect the volunteer and the tax client. The clients are not in the same location as the volunteers who actually prepare the returns. This is accomplished by separating the intake from preparation site. 2016 Virtual Tax Intake Sites Map
Virtual VITA Growth Filling Year Intake Site Average Return per Site FY12 2 37 FY13 17 104 FY14 41 120 FY15 120 63 FY16 115 99
Year: 2013 Site: Restoration Plaza Location: Brooklyn, NY Volume: 1,881 Impact: Local VITA Site Usage
Year: 2013 Site: FBNYC Virtual VITA Location: NYC Volume: 1,775 Impact: City Wide Virtual VITA Site Usage
What is the Food Bank s Virtual VITA Intake Site Commonly located in neighborhoods where our client base resides. The function is to verify client s identity and secure tax-related information. Program? Clients can be screened for Benefits (SNAP, Health and Financial Education). Information is Uploaded to a secure Interface where prep site can access it. 115 Virtual Intake Sites in FY16
What is the Food Bank s Virtual VITA Preparation Site Located where there is easy recruitment of volunteers. Program? Certified volunteers interviews the taxpayer and prepares the return remotely. Information is uploaded back to the secure interface or by utilizing secure Email directly to client. 2 Prep sites in FY16
The Preparation Site Prep Site: Call Within 72hr Return is Electronically filed Intake: 15 Minutes Authorization: 10 Minutes OR Interview and QR process: 15 Minutes Intake Site
Virtual VITA Process Intake Volunteer verifies Filer identity and performs document readiness, assisting filer if necessary in completion of IRS Intake F13614-C. Filer signs Virtual Consent F14446 and Tax documents get uploaded to secure interface. Tax Return Review & Queue Virtual Coordinator assigns tax return to a certified preparer. Preparer opens documents in secure interface and preparers tax return. Interview & Quality Review Tax Preparer and QR conducts telephone interview with tax filer to ensure a quality return was completed. After quality review and filer agrees to accept return, copy of finalized return is then uploaded to secure interface, or send electronically using DocuSign if client have internet access. Tax Filer Authorization & E-File Tax filer returns to Network Intake site. Copy of tax return is downloaded and printed by Intake site volunteer and tax return with e-file authorization form is given to tax filer to sign. A copy of the signed e-file authorization is uploaded to secure interface, RETURN IS E-FILED by Virtual Coordinator at preparation site.
Food Bank s Virtual VITA Security and data Encryption o Secure Platform Complies and exceeds IRS minimal required of user authentication with password, 128-bit encryption, and audit trail capability o Secure document upload Secure E-Signature o DocuSign integration Different Level user accounts o o o o o Project Administrator Site Coordinator Quality Reviewer Tax Preparer Intake Volunteer
Food Bank s Virtual VITA Benefit Screening capable o o o Basic screening Advanced screening Multi service screening Data collection o o Custom reporting Dashboard Creation Multi tax year capable o Secure Platform Client Relationship keeps records of prior year filings Case management features o o o Status indicator on return progress Call log and case diary notes Case updates alerts and follow up Queues
In Person VITA Virtual Pros Face to face Walk out with return Certified staff on site Multiple benefit access Volume per site is greater No long lines Time flexible Cost effective Expanded service area Easy set up Cons Long waiting lines Not everywhere Costly operation Partner's capacity # Volunteers & staff Client s trust Coordination May require 2 visits to site Authorization form
Thank You German Tejeda Vice President for Anti-Poverty Programming Gtejeda@foodbanknyc.org
Alternative Filing Methods Presentation Stakeholder Partnerships. Education and Communication (SPEC) Dan Maier Acting Chief, SPEC National Partnerships September 21, 2016
Why it s important: Potential market for volunteer tax services is substantial: Volunteer returns prepared through direct assistance model: o 3.6 million taxpayers received direct assistance (including FSA, 3.8 million overall) Preference for VITA services: o 19 Million taxpayers would use these services o Based on IRS Benchmark Survey Provides an opportunity for financial education by teaching taxpayers about return preparation (Facilitated Self Assistance)
Expanding Access: FSA (Facilitated Self Assistance) Virtual VITA/TCE
Facilitated Self-Assistance (FSA) Benefits: For sites: Prepare more returns Target more taxpayers with complex returns for direct help Reduce wait times during peak Provide taxpayers with a choice of service Returns counted towards site total Federal and state returns are free For taxpayers: Leverage current computer skills Access to brand-name tax software Ability to consult with a certified VITA volunteer for questions Increased knowledge about their return Increased confidence upon completion of return First step towards self-sufficiency in return filing
FSA Partners: SPEC works with a number of software providers to offer free federal and state tax prep and e-filing (note: offers vary by provider, based on income, state of residence, etc.): Benefit Bank H&R Block Free File Military OneSource MyFreeTaxes.com OnLine Taxes (OLT) TaxAct TurboTax Freedom Edition In 2017, TaxSlayer will also offer an FSA product available inperson at select VITA/TCE sites across the country (in addition to their traditional VITA/TCE software)
Virtual VITA/TCE: Allows partners to expand access to hard-toreach areas Outgrowth of Rural Initiative Allows sites to utilize volunteers more efficiently Shares documents/information using virtual means Taxpayer consents via Form 14446 Utilize Publication 4299 regarding info sharing
SPEC s Role: Provide counts for Alternative Filing Methods programs to partners Provide program oversight/support
Questions? Dan Maier Daniel.F.Maier@irs.gov