Free File Volunteers | United Way of Pickens County

Free File Volunteers are Superheroes to those they serve. In a typical tax season, about 60 community volunteers complete IRS certification training and prepare over 1,500 tax returns for individuals and families with an average income of approximately $20,000.

Free File could not happen without an amazing team of volunteers. Click to open each item below to learn more about the various Free File volunteer opportunities.

Intake Coordinator

Free File Intake Coordinators often have the first interaction with the taxpayer. Intake Coordinators are helpful, kind, and provide basic direction. They greet taxpayers as they arrive and ensure that the taxpayer has the necessary documents to complete their return, ask them to sign in, and show them where to go next.

Requirements:

Intake Coordinators must complete the Volunteer Standards of Conduct and the Intake Interview & Quality Review Training. All volunteers must also submit a signed volunteer agreement.

Learn More:

Download the Free File Intake Coordinator Guide to learn more.

Apply Now:

I am a

First name

Last name

Email address

Best phone Number

Address

Address 2

City

Zip

Employer or University (if applicable)

Date of Birth

Languages spoken competently enough to carry on a conversation and translate to English.

Please list languages if you checked "other" above.

I am interested in the following Volunteer Opportunities (mark all that apply)


Intake Coordinator: Welcoming taxpayers and overseeing the sign-in process. Conducting the initial screening of taxpayers.	Intake Coordinator: Welcoming taxpayers and overseeing the sign-in process. Conducting the initial screening of taxpayers.
Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation, and preparing tax returns.	Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation, and preparing tax returns.
Foreign Student Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation and preparing tax returns for non-resident students at Clemson University.	Foreign Student Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation and preparing tax returns for non-resident students at Clemson University.
Site Coordinator: Managing the Free File site and volunteers. Providing support, answering questions, and providing quality review of tax returns.	Site Coordinator: Managing the Free File site and volunteers. Providing support, answering questions, and providing quality review of tax returns.
Interpreter: Assisting tax payers who have limited English proficiency. ASL, Spanish and various other language interpreters are needed for our resident, non-resident, and refugee taxpayers.	Interpreter: Assisting tax payers who have limited English proficiency. ASL, Spanish and various other language interpreters are needed for our resident, non-resident, and refugee taxpayers.

Tax Preparer

Free File Tax Preparers provide a valuable service to the taxpayer. Tax preparers can provide basic education and assistance to the taxpayer. Volunteer Tax Preparers utilize the electronic tax software to prepare returns for eligible resident taxpayers.

Requirements:

All Pickens County Free File Volunteer Tax Preparers must certify at the advanced level. Volunteer Tax Preparers must complete the Volunteer Standards of Conduct, the Intake Interview & Quality Review Training, and the Advanced Exam Certifications. When certifying in Advanced, Basic Certification, is NOT necessary. All volunteers must also submit a signed volunteer agreement.

Learn More:

Download the Free File Tax Preparer Guide to learn more.

Apply Now:

I am a

First name

Last name

Email address

Best phone Number

Address

Address 2

City

Zip

Employer or University (if applicable)

Date of Birth

Languages spoken competently enough to carry on a conversation and translate to English.

Please list languages if you checked "other" above.

I am interested in the following Volunteer Opportunities (mark all that apply)


Intake Coordinator: Welcoming taxpayers and overseeing the sign-in process. Conducting the initial screening of taxpayers.	Intake Coordinator: Welcoming taxpayers and overseeing the sign-in process. Conducting the initial screening of taxpayers.
Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation, and preparing tax returns.	Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation, and preparing tax returns.
Foreign Student Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation and preparing tax returns for non-resident students at Clemson University.	Foreign Student Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation and preparing tax returns for non-resident students at Clemson University.
Site Coordinator: Managing the Free File site and volunteers. Providing support, answering questions, and providing quality review of tax returns.	Site Coordinator: Managing the Free File site and volunteers. Providing support, answering questions, and providing quality review of tax returns.
Interpreter: Assisting tax payers who have limited English proficiency. ASL, Spanish and various other language interpreters are needed for our resident, non-resident, and refugee taxpayers.	Interpreter: Assisting tax payers who have limited English proficiency. ASL, Spanish and various other language interpreters are needed for our resident, non-resident, and refugee taxpayers.

Tax Preparer: Foreign Student Taxes

Volunteer Tax Preparers for Foreign Student Taxes provide a valuable service to international students who don't often have access to free tax preparation. Tax Preparers utilize the electronic tax software to prepare returns for eligible non-resident taxpayers.

Requirements:

Tax Preparers for Foreign Student Taxes must complete the Volunteer Standards of Conduct, the Intake Interview & Quality Review Training, and the Foreign Student Tax Exam Certifications. All volunteers must also submit a signed volunteer agreement.

Learn More:

Download the Foreign Student Tax Preparer Guide to learn more.

Apply Now:

I am a

First name

Last name

Email address

Best phone Number

Address

Address 2

City

Zip

Employer or University (if applicable)

Date of Birth

Languages spoken competently enough to carry on a conversation and translate to English.

Please list languages if you checked "other" above.

I am interested in the following Volunteer Opportunities (mark all that apply)


Intake Coordinator: Welcoming taxpayers and overseeing the sign-in process. Conducting the initial screening of taxpayers.	Intake Coordinator: Welcoming taxpayers and overseeing the sign-in process. Conducting the initial screening of taxpayers.
Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation, and preparing tax returns.	Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation, and preparing tax returns.
Foreign Student Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation and preparing tax returns for non-resident students at Clemson University.	Foreign Student Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation and preparing tax returns for non-resident students at Clemson University.
Site Coordinator: Managing the Free File site and volunteers. Providing support, answering questions, and providing quality review of tax returns.	Site Coordinator: Managing the Free File site and volunteers. Providing support, answering questions, and providing quality review of tax returns.
Interpreter: Assisting tax payers who have limited English proficiency. ASL, Spanish and various other language interpreters are needed for our resident, non-resident, and refugee taxpayers.	Interpreter: Assisting tax payers who have limited English proficiency. ASL, Spanish and various other language interpreters are needed for our resident, non-resident, and refugee taxpayers.

Site Coordinator

Free File Site Coordinators manage the tax site. Site Coordinators quality review all tax returns and assist other volunteers as needed. Site Coordinators maintain schedules for all volunteers to encourage coverage, ensure supplies and equipment needed are at the site, and resolve any issues that arise. The Site Coordinator is also responsible for quality reviewing all prepared taxes, printing, and reviewing the documents with the taxpayer. Site Coordinators are responsible for making sure all prepared taxes are filed and that rejected returns are corrected and refiled in a timely manner.

Requirements:

Site Coordinators have four certification requirements (Step 2) Volunteer Standards of Conduct, the Intake Interview & Quality Review Training, the Advanced Exam, and the Site Coordinator Certification. Site Coordinators are also required to attend a separate Site Coordinator Training. All volunteers must also submit a signed volunteer agreement.

Learn More:

Download the Free File Site Coordinator Guide to learn more.

Apply Now:

I am a

First name

Last name

Email address

Best phone Number

Address

Address 2

City

Zip

Employer or University (if applicable)

Date of Birth

Languages spoken competently enough to carry on a conversation and translate to English.

Please list languages if you checked "other" above.

I am interested in the following Volunteer Opportunities (mark all that apply)


Intake Coordinator: Welcoming taxpayers and overseeing the sign-in process. Conducting the initial screening of taxpayers.	Intake Coordinator: Welcoming taxpayers and overseeing the sign-in process. Conducting the initial screening of taxpayers.
Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation, and preparing tax returns.	Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation, and preparing tax returns.
Foreign Student Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation and preparing tax returns for non-resident students at Clemson University.	Foreign Student Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation and preparing tax returns for non-resident students at Clemson University.
Site Coordinator: Managing the Free File site and volunteers. Providing support, answering questions, and providing quality review of tax returns.	Site Coordinator: Managing the Free File site and volunteers. Providing support, answering questions, and providing quality review of tax returns.
Interpreter: Assisting tax payers who have limited English proficiency. ASL, Spanish and various other language interpreters are needed for our resident, non-resident, and refugee taxpayers.	Interpreter: Assisting tax payers who have limited English proficiency. ASL, Spanish and various other language interpreters are needed for our resident, non-resident, and refugee taxpayers.

Interpreter

Volunteer Interpreters provide a valuable service to tax payers who have limited English speaking abilities or use sign language to communicate. Interpreters are needed for ASL, Spanish and other languages to assist our resident, non-resident and refugee taxpayers.

Requirements:

All volunteers must complete the Volunteer Standards of Conduct and the Intake Interview & Quality Review Training. All volunteers must also submit a signed volunteer agreement.

Learn More:

Download the Free File Interpreter Guide to learn more.

Apply Now:

I am a

First name

Last name

Email address

Best phone Number

Address

Address 2

City

Zip

Employer or University (if applicable)

Date of Birth

Languages spoken competently enough to carry on a conversation and translate to English.

Please list languages if you checked "other" above.

I am interested in the following Volunteer Opportunities (mark all that apply)


Intake Coordinator: Welcoming taxpayers and overseeing the sign-in process. Conducting the initial screening of taxpayers.	Intake Coordinator: Welcoming taxpayers and overseeing the sign-in process. Conducting the initial screening of taxpayers.
Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation, and preparing tax returns.	Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation, and preparing tax returns.
Foreign Student Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation and preparing tax returns for non-resident students at Clemson University.	Foreign Student Tax Preparer: Meeting with the taxpayer to gather information, reviewing documentation and preparing tax returns for non-resident students at Clemson University.
Site Coordinator: Managing the Free File site and volunteers. Providing support, answering questions, and providing quality review of tax returns.	Site Coordinator: Managing the Free File site and volunteers. Providing support, answering questions, and providing quality review of tax returns.
Interpreter: Assisting tax payers who have limited English proficiency. ASL, Spanish and various other language interpreters are needed for our resident, non-resident, and refugee taxpayers.	Interpreter: Assisting tax payers who have limited English proficiency. ASL, Spanish and various other language interpreters are needed for our resident, non-resident, and refugee taxpayers.

Information Session Recording

Missed the information session? You can watch a recording of the information in less than 10 minutes here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find out even more about volunteering with Free File by visiting the FAQ Page.

Training Sessions

Learn more about the upcoming training opportunities on the Free File Training Registration page found here.

Information on Certifying

How to get the IRS Certification to volunteer for Free File

The test questions are available in Pub 6744, Volunteer Assistor's Test/Retest.

All volunteers need to take Volunteer Standards of Conduct (p. 14-16) and Intake Interview and Quality Review (p. 21-22).

If you plan to be a volunteer tax preparer, you will need to take ONE of the three tests listed below, all are found in Pub 6744, Volunteer Assistor's Test/Retest:

Basic Course Scenarios and Test Questions (p. 31-59). Not necessary if you are taking the Advanced Test.
Advanced Course Scenarios and Test Questions (p. 69-103). Preferred for all tax preparers.
Foreign Student Test for Volunteers (p. 161-188). This test is only needed if you are working with international students.

Follow the instructions for creating your Link and Learn account found in the guide for your volunteer position:

Online resources to help with certification

Pub 4961, Volunteer Standards of Conduct
Pub 5101, Intake Interview and Quality Review
Pub 4012, the Volunteer Resource Guide
Pub 4011, Foreign Student and Scholar Volunteer Resource Guide

Another fantastic resource is VitaResources.net. This site will post study guides and will allow you to check your answers.

Apply Now

Ready to become a Free File Volunteer? Click the link below to apply for any of the Free File volunteer positions.

Apply Now

Questions?

For more information, contact Nicole Zeiset, 864-850-7094 x131.