Federal VITA/TCE Volunteer Standards of Conduct – Ethics Training
Extracted from PDF file 2024-federal-publication-4961.pdf, last modified October 2024VITA/TCE Volunteer Standards of Conduct – Ethics Training
4961 VITA/TCE Volunteer Standards of Conduct – Ethics Training Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) / Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) 2024 RETURNS Take your VITA/TCE training online at apps.irs.gov/app/vita/. Link to the Practice Lab to gain experience using tax software and take the certification test online, with immediate scoring and feedback. Publication 4961 (Rev. 10-2024) Catalog Number 58618U Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service www.irs.gov How to Get Technical Updates? Updates to the volunteer training materials will be contained in Publication 4491-X, VITA/TCE Training Supplement. The most recent version can be downloaded at: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4491x.pdf Volunteer Standards of Conduct Volunteer Income Tax Assistance / Tax Counseling for the Elderly (VITA/TCE) The mission of the VITA/TCE return preparation programs is to assist eligible taxpayers in satisfying their tax responsibilities by providing free tax return preparation. To establish the greatest degree of public trust, volunteers are required to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct and provide quality service. Annually all VITA/TCE volunteers must pass the Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) certification test and agree that they will adhere to the VSC by signing and dating Form 13615, Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement – VITA/TCE Programs, prior to volunteering at a VITA/TCE site. In addition, return preparers, quality reviewers, coordinators, client facilitators, and tax law instructors must certify in Intake/Interview and Quality Review. Volunteers who answer tax law questions, instruct tax law classes, prepare or correct tax returns, or conduct quality reviews of completed returns must also certify in tax law prior to signing the form. Form 13615 is not valid until the sponsoring partner’s approving official (coordinator, instructor, administrator, etc.) or IRS contact confirms the volunteer’s identity, name, and address, using government-issued photo identification, and signs and dates the form. Volunteers’ names and addresses in Link & Learn taxes must match their government-issued photo identification. Advise volunteers to update their My Account page in Link & Learn Taxes with their valid name and address. As a volunteer in the VITA/TCE programs, you must adhere to the following Volunteer Standards of Conduct: VSC #1 – Follow all Quality Site Requirements (QSR). VSC #2 – Do not accept payment, ask for donations, or accept refund payments for federal or state tax return preparation from customers. VSC #3 – Do not solicit business from taxpayers you help or use the information you gained about them (taxpayer information) for any direct or indirect personal benefit for yourself, any other specific individual or organization. VSC #4 – Do not knowingly prepare false returns. VSC #5 – Do not engage in criminal, infamous, dishonest, notoriously disgraceful conduct, or any other conduct considered to have a negative effect on the VITA/TCE programs. VSC #6 – Treat all taxpayers in a professional, courteous, and respectful manner. Failure to comply with these standards could result in, but is not limited to, the following: • • • • • • • Removal from all VITA/TCE programs Inclusion in the IRS Volunteer Registry to bar future VITA/TCE activity indefinitely Deactivation of your sponsoring partner’s site VITA/TCE electronic filing identification number (EFIN) Removal of all IRS products, supplies, loaned equipment, and taxpayer information from your site Termination of your sponsoring organization’s partnership with the IRS Termination of grant funds from the IRS to your sponsoring partner and Referral of your conduct for potential TIGTA and criminal investigations TaxSlayer® is a copyrighted software program owned by Rhodes Computer Services. All screen shots that appear throughout the official Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) training materials are used with the permission of Rhodes Computer Services. Confidentiality Statement: All tax information you receive from taxpayers in your volunteer capacity is strictly confidential and should not, under any circumstances, be disclosed to unauthorized individuals. 4961 Table of Contents Volunteer Standards of Conduct (Ethics) Training ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2 Introduction Objectives Unethical Defined ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) 2 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 Taxpayer Civil Rights Due Diligence ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 2 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 17 Failure to Comply with the Volunteer Standards of Conduct Volunteer Protection Act ������������������������������ 18 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19 Exercises ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 20 Summary �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 22 Instructions for Completing Training, Certifications, and the VSC Agreement Resolving Problems Exercise Answers Form 13615 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 23 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 24 Link & Learn Taxes ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ i 26 Volunteer Standards of Conduct (Ethics) Training Introduction The integrity of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs depends on maintaining public trust. All taxpayers using VITA/TCE services should be confident they are receiving accurate tax return preparation and quality service. All volunteers are responsible for providing the highest quality and best service to taxpayers. Along with this responsibility, all volunteers must sign and date Form 13615, Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement – VITA/TCE Programs, each year, stating they will uphold the highest ethical standards and follow all Quality Site Requirements (QSR). Furthermore, all IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (IRS-SPEC) partners must sign either Form 13533, Sponsor Agreement or Form 13533-A, FSA Remote Sponsor Agreement, certifying they will adhere to the strictest standards of ethical conduct. By signing this agreement, the sponsor agrees to make certain their volunteers are aware of the standards of conduct and the key principles of privacy and confidentiality. New volunteers must complete the Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) Training. Returning volunteers are encouraged to review the VSC Training as a refresher. All VITA/TCE volunteers must pass a VSC certification test with a score of 80% or higher. The VSC Training will provide: • An explanation of the six Volunteer Standards of Conduct listed on Form 13615 • Information on how to report possible violations • Consequences of failure to adhere to the program requirements • Examples of situations that raise questions on ethical behavior Why do we have Ethics Training? During past filing seasons, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and IRS-SPEC discovered unacceptable practices at a few VITA/TCE sites. In response to these issues, IRS-SPEC enhanced the Volunteer Standards of Conduct. The intent is to provide guidance and a structure for regulating VITA/TCE volunteers and to protect taxpayers. When unscrupulous volunteers intentionally ignore the law, it compromises the integrity of the VITA/TCE program and the public’s trust. Unfortunately, due to the actions of a few, the VITA/TCE programs’ integrity and trust have been tested. In these cases, IRS-SPEC can and does take appropriate actions against the partners and volunteers involved. IRS-SPEC is ultimately responsible for oversight of the VITA/TCE program. The agency often receives complaints from taxpayers, partners, and congressional members when notices are issued. IRS-SPEC researches and responds to all inquiries. 1 Objectives At the end of this lesson, you will be able to: • List the six Volunteer Standards of Conduct • Describe unethical behavior • Use the external referral process to report unethical behavior • Identify consequences for failing to comply with the standards • Explain how volunteers are protected What do I need? • Form 13615, Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement – VITA/TCE Programs • Publication 5683, VITA/TCE Handbook for Partners and Site Coordinators • Publication 4299, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights – A Public Trust Unethical Defined IRS-SPEC defines unethical as not conforming to agreed standards of moral conduct, especially within a particular profession. In most cases, unethical behavior is acted upon with the intent to disregard the established laws, procedures, or set policies. Do not confuse an unethical action with a lack of knowledge or a simple mistake. Mary prepared a return which included a credit the taxpayer did not qualify for. Mary did not understand the law, so she did not act unethically. However, if Mary knowingly allowed a credit for which the taxpayer did not qualify, Mary committed an unethical act and violated the Volunteer Standards of Conduct. Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) Often volunteers face ethical issues, which arise in unexpected situations requiring quick decisions and good judgment. In many cases, the volunteer will react to unusual situations and not realize until later that it was, in fact, an ethical dilemma. The Volunteer Standards of Conduct were developed specifically for the operation of free tax preparation programs. Form 13615, Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement – VITA/TCE Programs, applies to all conduct and ethical behavior affecting the VITA/TCE programs. Volunteers must agree to adhere to the standards of conduct prior to working in a VITA/TCE free tax return preparation site. All participants in the VITA/TCE programs must adhere to these Volunteer Standards of Conduct: VSC #1 – Follow all Quality Site Requirements (QSR). VSC #2 – Do not accept payment, ask for donations, or accept refund payments for federal or state tax return preparation from customers. VSC #3 – Do not solicit business from taxpayers you help or use the information you gained about them (taxpayer information) for any direct or indirect personal benefit for yourself, any other specific individual or organization. VSC #4 – Do not knowingly prepare false returns. VSC #5 – Do not engage in criminal, infamous, dishonest, notoriously disgraceful conduct, or any other conduct considered to have a negative effect on the VITA/TCE programs. VSC #6 – Treat all taxpayers in a professional, courteous, and respectful manner. VSC #1 – Follow all Quality Site Requirements (QSR). The purpose of the Quality Site Requirements (QSR) is to ensure the quality and accuracy of tax return preparation and consistent operation of sites. 2 Non-adherence to any QSR only becomes a violation of the VSC if volunteers refuse to follow the QSR. If the problem is corrected, it is not a violation of the VSC. Refer to Publication 5166, VITA/TCE Volunteer Quality Site Requirements, for a full explanation of each QSR. See a brief description of the ten QSR below: QSR #1, Certification Volunteers must complete their certifications using the IRS electronic tests through Link & Learn Taxes (LLT). Volunteers who prefer to take the Certification Test on paper utilizing Form 6744, VITA/ TCE Volunteer Assistor’s Test or Retest, may continue to complete the test using that method but must transcribe their answers to the test in LLT. Volunteers’ names and addresses in Link & Learn taxes must match their government-issued photo identification. SPEC recommends that volunteers update their My Account page in LLT with their valid name and address. • Volunteer training may consist of classroom training, self-study, and/or LLT. • Volunteers have two attempts to pass each certification with a passing score of 80% or above on each certification. Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) Training New volunteers must take the VSC Training. The training is available in LLT and in Publication 4961, VITA/TCE Volunteer Standards of Conduct – Ethics Training. SPEC encourages returning volunteers to review the VSC training as a refresher. All volunteers must pass the VSC certification using LLT prior to working at a site. VITA/TCE Intake/Interview and Quality Review Training All new and returning volunteer instructors, preparers, coordinators, and quality reviewers must take Publication 5101, VITA/TCE Intake/Interview and Quality Review Training and pass Intake/Interview and Quality Review certification. Volunteer greeters, screeners and client facilitators who assist taxpayers with completing Form 13614-C, Intake/Interview and Quality Review Sheet, must also take Intake/Interview and Quality Review Training and certify. • This training will be offered virtually with a Q&A session via Webcaster. Link is available in Publication 5325, Fact Sheet: Filing Season Training for SPEC Partners and Volunteers. • All volunteer greeters, screeners and client facilitators who assign tax returns for return preparation must also take Intake/Interview and Quality Review Training and certify. VITA/TCE Tax Law Training Volunteers who answer tax law questions, instruct tax law classes, prepare, or correct tax returns, and/or conduct quality reviews of completed tax returns, must certify in tax law prior to conducting tax law related tasks. Screeners and client facilitators who answer tax law questions must also certify in tax law. Tax law certification is an annual requirement. Volunteers who do not help with tax law related issues (for example, greeters, receptionists, equipment coordinators) do not have to certify in tax law but must still complete the VSC certification test via LLT. IRS tax law certified volunteer preparers must prepare tax returns that are within scope of the VITA/ TCE program. Volunteers must spot out-of-scope returns early in the tax return preparation process. Refer all out-of-scope tax returns to a professional tax return preparer. Scope refers to VITA/TCE tax law topics applied to a volunteer prepared tax return. Scope does not refer to income levels. A Scope of Service Chart is in Publication 4012, VITA/TCE Volunteer Resource Guide. • Tax law instructors must certify in tax law at the Advanced level or higher. • IRS tax law certified volunteer preparers can only prepare returns with tax issues that fall within their certification level. If the site is preparing tax returns above the Basic certification level, the volunteer preparer must certify to the level needed to prepare these returns. 3 • Designated and peer-to-peer quality reviewers can only quality review returns with tax issues that fall within their certification levels. If the site is preparing tax returns above the Basic certification level, the quality reviewers must certify to the level needed to quality review these returns. Specialty Certifications • Volunteers may take other specialty certifications. ◦ Volunteers must first certify in Volunteer Standards of Conduct before taking Over the Phone Interpreter (OPI) certification ◦ Volunteers must first certify at either Basic or Advanced level before taking the specialty certification for Puerto Rico. ◦ Volunteers must first certify at the Advanced level before taking the Military and International specialty certifications. • Federal Tax Law Update Test for Circular 230 Professionals (C230) - SPEC offers a tax law certification test that allows VITA/TCE volunteers who have the professional designation of attorney, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or Enrolled Agent (EA) to certify on new provisions and tax law changes. Volunteers with professional designations must have an active license and be in good standing. In addition, the volunteers must first certify in Volunteer Standards of Conduct and Intake/ Interview and Quality Review. The C230 test is an optional certification. Volunteers who want more training can choose the traditional certification paths available to all volunteers. • Volunteers who successfully pass the C230 test can prepare all tax returns within the scope of the VITA/ TCE program. SPEC created the minimum certification requirements for volunteers who are authorized under Circular 230; however, partners may establish additional certification requirements for their volunteers. Volunteers and coordinators should check with the sponsoring SPEC partner. Volunteers who certify only in C230 for tax law are not eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits. SPEC requirements may be different from partner requirements. Partners may require a higher level of training. However, partner requirements can never be lower than IRS requirements. For example, some partners require their coordinators to be certified at the Advanced tax law certification level, even if they do not give tax law advice, prepare, or correct tax returns. For example, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide (Tax-Aide) requires tax counselors to certify at the Advanced level. This is an acceptable practice. Coordinators and alternate coordinators must complete site coordinator training annually. There are several options for completing site coordinator training: • Attend local territory training sessions scheduled between October and December. • Attend partner-provided training on the topics covered in Publication 5088, VITA/TCE Site Coordinator Training or • Review Publication 5088, which is available on Link & Learn Taxes (LLT) or IRS.gov. QSR #2, Intake/Interview and Quality Review Process All taxpayers using the services offered through the VITA/TCE programs should be confident they are receiving accurate return preparation and quality service. Three vital processes that result in accurate returns and quality service are: effective intake, thorough taxpayer interview and quality review of the tax return. All sites must use Form 13614-C, Intake/Interview and Quality Review Sheet, for every tax return prepared by an IRS-certified volunteer. Form 13614-C guides the IRS-certified volunteer preparer through the interview with the taxpayer and allows them to gather all necessary information to prepare an accurate return. Every site must use a complete quality review process for all returns prepared to ensure accuracy. A tax return is considered accurate when tax law is applied correctly, and the completed return is free from error based on the completed Form 13614-C, Intake/Interview and Quality Review Sheet (or Form 13614-NR), the taxpayer's interview and the taxpayer’s supporting documentation. All returns must be quality reviewed 4 and discussed with the taxpayer using the designated or peer-to-peer review. Self Review is not allowed. All returns must be quality reviewed by another volunteer certified to the level required for the return. Form 13614-NR, Nonresident Alien Intake and Interview sheet is also available for use at sites serving nonresident alien taxpayers. Volunteers are required to be certified in Foreign Student and Scholar to use this form to prepare Form 1040-NR, US Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return. QSR#2 requires a volunteer to have a complete Form 13614-C before preparing each tax return. Volunteers must verify each answer on pages 1 through 3. On pages 2 and 3, confirm each checked box is accurate. If a taxpayer incorrectly checked a box, erase or cross out the box and put your initials. Use the gray shaded column on the right side of pages 2 and 3 to leave notes or clarify answers. There is additional space for preparer notes on page 5. QSR #3, Confirming Photo Identification and Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) Coordinators must have a process in place to confirm taxpayers’ identities and taxpayer identification numbers (TIN). All volunteers must follow the site's process prior to tax return preparation. In addition, the quality reviewer must perform the verification procedures again during quality review before taxpayer signs and receives a copy of the prepared tax return. This process must include using acceptable documents to confirm taxpayers’ identities and TIN by reviewing: • Original photo identification (ID) for the taxpayer (and spouse, if married filing jointly); and • Social Security numbers (SSN) and individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN) for everyone listed on the tax return and • Correct spelling of names for everyone listed on the tax return Please refer to Publication 4299 for more information about acceptable documents for photo identification and to confirm a TIN. Publication 4299 provides exceptions for validating taxpayer identities subject to coordinator approval. QSR #4, Reference Materials All sites must have, in paper or electronic form, the following reference materials available for use by IRS tax law certified volunteers: • Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals) • Publication 4012, VITA/TCE Volunteer Resource Guide • Publication 4299, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights – A Public Trust • Volunteer Tax Alerts (VTA) and Quality Site Requirement Alerts (QSRA) or CyberTax Alerts issued by TaxAide QSR #5, Volunteer Agreement Form 13615, Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement - VITA/TCE Programs. Annually, all volunteers (coordinators, return preparers, quality reviewers, greeters, screeners, client facilitators, etc.) must complete the Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) certification. In addition they must agree to follow the VSC by signing and dating Form 13615. The partner’s approving official must also certify (sign and date) Form 13615. This confirms that the partner’s approving official has verified the volunteer’s identity, name, and address, using governmentissued photo identification. The partner must also confirm the volunteer has passed the required IRS training certification test(s), and the volunteer has signed and dated Form 13615. Every volunteer’s Form 13615 must be certified prior to their volunteering at a VITA/TCE site. This approving official can be the coordinator, sponsoring partner official, instructor, or IRS contact, as appointed by the partner. 5 The approving official must confirm volunteers’ identities, names, and addresses using government-issued photo identification (ID), when reviewing and signing Forms 13615. SPEC partners and coordinators can review volunteers’ government-issued photo ID electronically. Government-issued photo identification (ID) includes valid driver’s license (U.S.), state ID (U.S.), Military ID, national ID, visa, Global Entry ID, or passport. Coordinators can make exceptions to use official high school identification for students taking part as volunteers in an official VITA/TCE High School program. The name on Form 13615 must match both the name on the government-issued photo ID and the volunteer’s name added to TaxSlayer or other tax preparation software. SPEC does not allow the use of volunteer nicknames in the tax preparation software. Volunteers’ names and addresses in LLT must match their government-issued photo ID. Advise volunteers to update their My Account page in LLT with their valid name and address. Coordinators must exercise due diligence and have a method to verify training certification the day the volunteer reports to the site. The approving official must confirm volunteers’ identities, names, and addresses using government-issued photo identification (ID), when reviewing and signing Forms 13615. SPEC partners and coordinators can review volunteers’ government-issued photo ID electronically. Government-issued photo identification (ID) includes valid driver’s license (U.S.), state ID (U.S.), Military ID, national ID, visa, Global Entry ID, or passport. Coordinators can make exceptions to use official high school identification for students taking part as volunteers in an official VITA/TCE High School program. The name on Form 13615 must match both the name on the government-issued photo ID and the volunteer’s name added to TaxSlayer or other tax preparation software. SPEC does not allow the use of volunteer nicknames in the tax preparation software. Coordinators who prepare tax returns, provide tax law assistance, correct rejected returns, or quality review tax returns must certify in tax law to the level required for the complexity of the returns. If they do NOT perform any of these duties, they are not required to certify in tax law, as shown by the dotted line in the certification paths chart. Tax Preparers Instructors, Quality Reviewers Coordinators Circular 230 Volunteers All Other Volunteers Volunteer Standards of Conduct Training & Certification Intake/Interview and Quality Review Certification Site Coordinator Certification Tax Law Certification *Federal Tax Law Update Test for Circular 230 Professionals 6 Circular 230 Certification* SPEC Over-thePhone Interpreter (SPEC OPI, optional certification) QSR #6, Timely Filing of Tax Returns All coordinators must have a process in place to ensure every tax return is timely electronically filed or delivered to the taxpayer. Refer to Publication 1345, Handbook for Authorized IRS e-file Providers of Individual Income Tax Returns, for guidance on e-filing returns, stockpiling of returns and resolving rejects. E-filing Returns and Stockpiling of Returns Stockpiling is waiting more than three calendar days to submit the return once the site has all necessary tax documents. Tax returns must be e-filed no more than three calendar days after the site has secured all necessary information from the taxpayer and completed all necessary tax preparation steps required to file the taxpayers return electronically. This means the taxpayer has completed the intake/interview process, provided all necessary tax documents, completed the Quality Review and has provided consent to the site to e-file the return by signing Form 8879. Once these steps have been completed, the VITA/TCE site has three calendar days to e-file the return. Returns must be completed within a reasonable timeframe. If due to lack of response, delays with resolving rejects, signing Form 8879 or volunteer staffing, sites must notify taxpayers that the return has been deactivated in the tax preparation software and to return to the site to pick up their tax documents. If the taxpayer does not return to the site, per Publication 4299, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights, sites must properly dispose of tax documents including burning or shredding the data. Extension to File Returns Sites can assist taxpayers with filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension to File US Individual Income Tax Return, with the consent of the taxpayer and when the facts and circumstances of the taxpayer’s situation indicate filing an extension to file their return is the correct tax determination for the taxpayer. In order to e-file the Form 4868 on behalf of the taxpayer, the Form 8878, IRS E-file Signature Authorization for the Form 4868 or Form 2350 MUST be signed by the taxpayer prior to the e-filing of the Form 4868. QSR #7, Civil Rights All VITA/TCE sites must make available to all taxpayers who seek services at the site information on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by providing the current Publication 4053 (en-sp), Your Civil Rights are Protected Poster for IRS Assisted Programs (VITA/TCE/LITC) (English & Spanish), or a current D143, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide (poster). These posters provide volunteers and taxpayers with contact information to report discriminatory treatment. If a taxpayer or volunteer has a civil rights complaint, refer them to the contact information on Publication 4053 (en-sp). If taxpayers request the information in writing, offer Publication 4454, Your Civil Rights are Protected. Publication 4454 is an optional brochure designed to notify taxpayers of their civil rights when the site cannot provide tax preparation services (for example, lack of information to prepare the return, the return is not within scope of the VITA/ TCE program). Taxpayers must have access to the civil rights information even if they do not have a tax return prepared. At a traditional site, the poster must be visible at the first point of contact between the taxpayer and volunteer. For virtual sites, the poster must be sent or made available to all seeking services. QSR #8, Correct Site Identification Number (SIDN) All tax returns prepared by VITA/TCE sites must include the correct site identification number (SIDN). E-file administrators must set tax software defaults to make sure the correct SIDN automatically appears on each tax return. Partners or coordinators should work with their local SPEC territory office to make sure they are using the correct SIDN. 7 QSR #9, Correct Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) All tax returns prepared by VITA/TCE sites must include the correct electronic filing identification number (EFIN). All partners must use the online IRS e-file application process found in E-Services on IRS.gov to apply for an EFIN or update an application. A separate EFIN is required for each physical location. E-file administrators should set the tax software defaults to ensure the correct EFIN automatically appears on Form 8879, IRS e-file Signature Authorization. QSR #10, Security, Privacy, and Confidentiality Publication 4299, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights - A Public Trust, is the resource document for guidance on securing and protecting personally identifiable information (PII) shared by taxpayers, volunteers, and partners. A copy (paper or electronic) must be available at the site. Sites must follow all security, privacy, and confidentiality guidelines as outlined in Publication 4299. All coordinators must have security procedures in place as described in Publication 4299 for the following processes: • Preparing an annual security plan to safeguard taxpayer data. Sites can use Form 15272, VITA/ TCE Security Plan, or a similar document that captures the same information. See note below for more information on Form 15272. • Protecting all computers with passwords. • Using a hard-wired internet connection or encrypted and password protected wireless internet connection. • Securing computers, printers, and all equipment. • Safeguarding PII at the site by safely storing and/or properly disposing of the information. • Properly securing signatures on IRC Section 7216 required consent notices. • Limiting volunteer access privileges to the tax software based on assigned roles. • Generally restricting volunteer access to the tax software. • Deactivating usernames in the tax software when volunteers quit, resign, or are no longer working at the site. For additional information on Quality Site Requirements, refer to Publication 5166, VITA/TCE Volunteer Quality Site Requirements. VSC #2 – Do not accept payment, ask for donations, or accept refund payments for federal or state tax return preparation from customers. “Free” means we do not accept payment for our services from the clients we serve. We do not want to confuse the taxpayer by asking for donations. Donation or tip jars located in the return preparation or taxpayer waiting area are a violation of this standard. Donation or tip jars can be placed in another area at the site as long as that area does not give the impression that the site is collecting the funds for return preparation. Donation or tip jars cannot be in the entry, waiting, tax preparation, or quality review areas. A client may offer payment, but always refuse with a smile and say something like, “Thank you, but we cannot accept payment for our services.” If someone insists, recommend cookies or donuts for the site. Taxpayers can make cash donations to the sponsoring organization, but not in the tax preparation area. Refer taxpayers who are interested in making cash donations to the appropriate website or to the coordinator for more information. Having fee-based preparation at the VITA site location while the VITA site is open is like tip jars within the preparation space. This causes confusion to the taxpayer as VITA is advertised as a free service. You finish a time-consuming return and the client is very grateful. On her way out, the client stops by and tries to sneak a $20 bill in your pocket, saying, “I would have paid ten times that at the preparer across the street.” Return the money and explain that you cannot accept money for doing taxes. 8 Taxpayers’ federal or state refunds must not be deposited into VITA/TCE volunteers', partners' or any associated organizations' personal or business bank/debit card accounts. VITA/TCE sites must only request direct deposit of a taxpayer’s refund into accounts bearing the taxpayer’s name. Some VITA/TCE sites use employees of the sponsoring organization to prepare tax returns as a part of their work duties. This is not considered receiving payment from the customer and is not a violation to this VSC. VSC #3 – Do not solicit business from taxpayers you help or use the information gained about them (taxpayer information) for any direct or indirect personal benefit for yourself, any other specific individual or organization. Volunteers must properly use and safeguard taxpayers’ personal information. Volunteers may not use confidential or nonpublic information to engage in financial transactions. They cannot allow improper use of taxpayer information to further their own, another persons' or organizations' private interests. SPEC encourages partnering with banks or credit unions to promote unbanked taxpayers to open bank accounts. However, sites and volunteers cannot offer clients refund anticipation loans (RAL) or refund anticipation checks (RAC) when preparing federal or state tax returns. Below is guidance for banks or credits unions who partner with VITA/TCE: • VITA/TCE coalitions and partners must take steps, so taxpayers clearly understand tax services remain free of cost regardless of whether they sign up for a bank or credit union membership or a refund anticipation loan. • Bank or credit union information/enrollment tables must remain in a separate space from tax return preparation. • Bank or credit union offerings must be announced using general terms to potential customers separate from tax return preparation. • Volunteers must not promote bank or credit union services by using information provided by the taxpayer to prepare a tax return (such as the taxpayer not having a bank account or the amount of the tax refund). • SPEC encourages VITA/TCE coalitions and partners to reach out and find additional financial institutions to offer services at VITA/TCE sites. To avoid the appearance of endorsement or preferential treatment, SPEC recommends giving other financial institutions with similar products with the same or similar terms to be present at the location separate from tax return preparation. SPEC determined having a representative of a bank or credit union present at the same location as a VITA/TCE site but separate from the tax return preparation space is not a violation of VSC #3 even if that bank provides RACs/RALs as part of its overall business. The partner operates a paid tax service in addition to having a VITA site in the same facility. The volunteer reviews the income documents and determine the taxpayer’s total income is above the VITA income limit. The volunteer then directs customers to their paid service for taxpayer convenience, so they do not have to seek services elsewhere. You explain that this is a violation of VSC #3. Partner used taxpayer information gained during the Intake/Interview process for direct personal benefit to their organization. Your primary business includes selling health insurance policies. During the interview, you find out the taxpayer lost access to health insurance in January of the current year. You cannot offer to sell the taxpayer health insurance through your business. You are a volunteer preparer and an accountant. You cannot solicit business from the taxpayer. You are the site’s greeter. Your daughter asks you to take candy orders at the site for her school fundraiser. You explain to her that as a VITA/TCE volunteer you cannot solicit personal business. 9 Securing consent There will be some instances when taxpayers will allow the use of their personal information other than for return preparation. Under Internal Revenue Code § 7216, all volunteer sites using or disclosing taxpayer data for purposes other than current, prior, or subsequent year tax return preparation must secure a consent from the taxpayer. There are several types of consents: Global Carry Forward Consent, Relational EFIN Consent, and Use and Disclosure Consents. The coordinator will have a process in place if consents are required at your VITA/TCE site. Exceptions to required consents Volunteer sites that use or disclose the total number of returns (refunds or credits) prepared for their taxpayers at their site (aggregate data) for fundraising, marketing, and publicity are not required to secure taxpayers’ consent. This information cannot include any Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as the taxpayer’s name, SSN/ITIN, address or other personal information, and does not disclose information containing data from fewer than ten tax returns. This exception does not apply to the use or disclosure in marketing or advertising of statistical compilations containing or reflecting dollar amounts of refunds, credits, rebates, or related percentages. IRC 7216(a) – Imposes criminal penalties on tax return preparers who knowingly or recklessly make unauthorized disclosures or uses of information furnished in connection with the preparation of an income tax return. A violation of IRC 7216 is a misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of up to one year imprisonment or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both, together with the cost of prosecution. For additional information on IRC 7216 required consents, refer to Publication 4299, Privacy, Confidentiality, and Civil Rights – A Public Trust. VSC #4 – Do not knowingly prepare false returns. It is imperative that volunteers correctly apply tax law to the taxpayer’s situation. While it can be a temptation for a volunteer to bend the law to help taxpayers, this will cause problems down the road for the taxpayers. Volunteers must not knowingly prepare false returns. Trust in the IRS and the local sponsoring organization is jeopardized when ethical standards are not followed. Fraudulent returns can result in unwanted taxpayer interaction with the IRS. The taxpayer may be required to pay additional tax, plus interest and penalties, resulting in an extreme burden. In addition, the taxpayer may seek damages under state or local law from the SPEC partner for the volunteer’s fraudulent actions. Even so, the IRS would still seek payment of the additional taxes, interest, and penalties from the taxpayer. To report suspected violations or concerns which you have by emailing SPEC Headquarters at [email protected]. The email should include your name, contact number, site name, and a detailed description of the incident including the individual's full name, date the incident occurred, and the number of taxpayers affected by the violation. A volunteer preparer told the taxpayer that cash income does not need to be reported. The return was completed without the cash income. The volunteer preparer has violated this standard. The quality reviewer simply missed this omission and the return was printed, signed, and e-filed. The quality reviewer missed this omission and the return was printed, signed, and e-filed. Since the quality reviewer did not knowingly allow this return to be e-filed incorrectly, the quality reviewer did not violate this standard. Do not to confuse an unethical action with a lack of knowledge or a simple mistake. A volunteer prepares a fraudulent return by knowingly claiming an ineligible dependent. The taxpayer received a notice from IRS disallowing the dependent and assessing additional taxes, interest, and penalties. The taxpayer may seek money from the SPEC partner, but must still pay the IRS the additional taxes, interest, and penalties. 10 A volunteer prepares a fraudulent return by adding Household Employee Wages that the taxpayer did not earn. The taxpayer received a notice from IRS for additional information needed about the earnings that the taxpayer did not have so the IRS corrected the tax return and began assessing additional taxes, interest, and penalties. Hardship on the taxpayer For a low-income taxpayer, it could be impossible to make full payment and recover from return fraud. If full payment is not received, the taxpayer will receive several collection notices. If full payment is still not received, the taxpayer will be sent through the IRS collection process. This could also involve the filing of a tax lien or a levy (garnishment) on their bank accounts and/or wages. The taxpayer may be eligible for an installment agreement, but it could take several years to pay the IRS debt. A taxpayer’s return fraudulently contains the Earned Income Credit (EIC). The taxpayer has already received the refund when an audit notice is issued. During the audit, the taxpayer cannot provide documentation to support the EIC claim. The taxpayer is disallowed $3,000 in EIC and now has a balance due of over $4,000, including penalties and interest. This amount reflects only the EIC disallowance. An additional disallowance of the Head of Household (HOH) filing status and Child Tax Credit (CTC) could generate a balance of over $6,000. Identity Theft Nationwide, identity theft continues to grow at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, there are instances of unscrupulous volunteers using information they have obtained at a VITA/TCE site to steal the identity of taxpayers. For example, using a stolen SSN to file a false tax return to obtain a refund is a form of identity theft. Any suspicion of identity theft occurring at a VITA/TCE site must be reported to IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). The IRS considers this a very serious crime and put measures in place to detect possible identity theft situations at VITA/TCE sites. The IRS is continually implementing: new processes for handling returns, new filters to detect fraud, new initiatives to partner with stakeholders, and a continuing commitment to investigate the criminals who commit these crimes. Jane, an IRS tax law-certified volunteer, is working at a VITA site on the first day the site is open. She has volunteered to electronically file the tax returns for the site to help out the coordinator. Therefore, she is given the needed permission level in the tax preparation software. That day, Joe, the coordinator, opens the locked VITA file cabinet and discovers an e-file acceptance report he forgot to destroy from the previous year. He asks Jane to take the report down the hall to the shredder because it has several SSNs listed. Jane puts the report in her purse without Joe’s knowledge. Later that night at home, Jane opens the VITA tax preparation software and prepares falsified tax returns for the eight SSNs listed on the report she took from the VITA site that morning. She makes sure the returns all have large refunds. Jane puts her own bank account information in the direct deposit fields and electronically files the returns. Jane stole the identity of these eight taxpayers by preparing false federal tax returns to steal the refunds. SPEC has a system that extracts information pertaining to tax returns filed through the VITA/TCE program where multiple tax refunds are being deposited into a single bank account. Jane’s actions were reported to IRS CI and TIGTA. VSC #5 – Do not engage in criminal, infamous, dishonest, notoriously disgraceful conduct, or any other conduct considered to have a negative effect on the VITA/TCE program. SPEC can prohibit volunteers from participating in the VITA/TCE program if they engage in criminal, infamous, dishonest, or notoriously disgraceful conduct, or any other conduct prejudicial to the government. 11 Volunteers must take care to avoid interactions that discredit the program. A taxpayer may look to state or local law to seek money from the SPEC partner for a volunteer’s fraudulent actions. If you have information indicating that another volunteer has engaged in criminal conduct or violated any of the Volunteer Standards of Conduct, immediately report such information to your coordinator and email SPEC headquarters at [email protected] and copy the partner and the local SPEC territory office as appropriate. The email notification should include your name, contact number, site name, and a detailed description of the incident including the individual's full name, date the incident occurred and the number of taxpayers affected by the violation. Consequences Volunteers performing egregious activities are barred from volunteering for the VITA/TCE program and may be added to a registry of barred volunteers. Allowing an unauthorized alien to volunteer at a VITA/TCE site is prohibited. An “unauthorized alien” is defined as a person not lawfully admitted into the United States for either permanent residence or employment. All volunteers participating in the VITA/TCE program must legally reside in the United States. Coordinators are required to ask for proof of identity with a government-issued photo ID for each volunteer. However, coordinators or partners are not required to validate the legal status of volunteers. Therefore, by signing Form 13615, volunteers are certifying that they are legal residents of the United States. A partner’s program director was convicted of embezzling funds from an unrelated organization. The program director’s criminal conduct created negative publicity for the partner. The partner was removed from the VITA/TCE program. A taxpayer’s refund was stolen by a volunteer return preparer at a VITA site. The taxpayer sought monetary damages from the SPEC partner for the volunteer’s fraudulent actions. The volunteer preparer was banned from volunteering in the VITA/TCE program. VSC #6 – Treat all taxpayers in a professional, courteous, and respectful manner. To safeguard public trust, Internal Revenue Service employees, partners, and volunteers must maintain the confidence and respect of the people we serve. All volunteers must conduct themselves professionally in a courteous, businesslike, and diplomatic manner. Volunteers take pride in assisting individuals who come to VITA/TCE sites for return preparation. Taxpayers are often under a lot of stress and may wait extended periods for assistance. Volunteers may also experience stress due to the volume of taxpayers needing service. This situation can make patience run short. It is important to remain calm and create a peaceful and friendly atmosphere. You finish a difficult return for Millie, who has self-employment income, several expenses, and very few records. In addition, her son turned 25 and moved out early in the year. She owes the IRS about $50. After you carefully explain the return, Millie sputters, “You don’t know what you’re doing. I always get a refund! My neighbor is self-employed and she got $1,900 back.” In this situation, you should take a deep breath and courteously explain that every return is different. If necessary, involve the coordinator. 12 Taxpayer Civil Rights In accordance with federal law and the Department of the Treasury – Internal Revenue Service policy, discrimination against taxpayers on the basis of race, color, national origin (including Limited English Proficiency), disability, sex (in education programs or activities), age or reprisal is prohibited in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. Persons with disabilities and/or limited English proficiency should be able to participate in or benefit from programs and services that IRS supports. Taxpayers with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation and taxpayers with limited English proficiency may request language assistance to access services. For additional information refer to Publication 4053, Your Civil Rights Are Protected, for reasonable accommodations. Coordinators at federally assisted sites are responsible for ensuring that reasonable requests for accommodation are granted when the requests are made by qualified individuals with disabilities and that reasonable steps are taken to ensure that LEP persons have meaningful access to its programs or activities. For additional guidance, please visit the Site Coordinator Corner on IRS.gov and review the Fact Sheets on Reasonable Accommodation and Limited English Proficiency. If a taxpayer believes he or she has been discriminated against, a written complaint should be sent to: Internal Revenue Service Civil Rights Unit 111 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 2413 Washington DC 20224 For all inquiries concerning taxpayer civil rights, contact the Civil Rights Division at the address referenced above, or email: [email protected] Do not send returns, payments or other non-civil rights information to this address. Due Diligence By law, tax return preparers must exercise due diligence in preparing or assisting in the preparation of tax returns. IRS defines due diligence as the degree of care and caution reasonably expected from, and ordinarily exercised by, a volunteer in the VITA/TCE program. This means, as a volunteer, you must do your part when preparing or quality reviewing a tax return to ensure the information on the return is correct and complete. Doing your part includes confirming a taxpayer’s (and/or spouse, if married filing jointly) identity and providing top-quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities. Generally, IRS tax law certified volunteers may rely in good faith on information from a taxpayer without requiring documentation as verification. However, part of due diligence requires volunteers to ask a taxpayer to clarify information that may appear to be inconsistent or incomplete. When reviewing information for its accuracy, volunteers need to ask themselves if the information is unusual or questionable. If at any time a volunteer becomes uncomfortable with the information provided by the taxpayer, the volunteer should not prepare the tax return. If necessary, ask the coordinator for assistance. When in doubt, make an effort to find the answer • Seek assistance from the coordinator • Seek assistance from a tax preparer with more experience • Reschedule or suggest the taxpayer come back when a more experienced tax preparer is available 13 • Reference or research publications (i.e. Publication 17, Publication 4012, Publication 596, etc.) • Research www.irs.gov • Call the VITA/TCE Hotline at 1-800-829-VITA (8482) • Research the Interactive Tax Assistance (ITA) on www.irs.gov to address tax law issues • Advise taxpayers to seek assistance from a professional tax preparer Failure to Comply with the Volunteer Standards of Conduct Who enforces the standards? The U.S. tax system is based on voluntary compliance. Most taxpayers compute their tax accurately, but at times unscrupulous taxpayers and preparers evade the system by filing fraudulent returns. For this reason, some sponsoring organizations may perform background checks on their volunteers. The VITA/TCE program is operated by sponsoring partners and/or coalitions outside the IRS. However, IRS is responsible for providing oversight to protect the VITA/TCE programs’ integrity and to maintain taxpayer confidence. IRS recognizes the hard work volunteers contribute to the programs and does not want that overshadowed by a volunteer’s lapse in judgment. How are the standards enforced? IRS-SPEC continues to revise Form 13615, Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement, to provide guidance to volunteers and a structure for regulating ethical standards. By signing and dating Form 13615, Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement, volunteers agree that they will adhere to the VSC. If conduct violating the standards occurs at a VITA/TCE site, IRS-SPEC will recommend corrective actions. If the site cannot or will not remedy the conduct, then IRS-SPEC will discontinue its relationship and remove any government property from the site. In cases of wrongdoing, illegal conduct, and/or management practices that violate the VSC, IRS-SPEC may terminate a VITA/TCE grant. A volunteer’s conduct could put a site or partner in jeopardy of losing its government funding. What if an unethical situation is discovered at a site? If volunteers, coordinators, or taxpayers identify potential problems at the partner, site, or volunteer level that may require independent scrutiny, they must report these issues using the external referral process (VolTax) by emailing SPEC headquarters at [email protected]. Copy the partner and the local SPEC territory office as appropriate. In general, the coordinator is the first point of contact for resolving any problems that a volunteer may encounter. If a volunteer feels an ethical issue can’t be handled by the coordinator, the volunteer should e-mail SPEC headquarters at [email protected] and copy the partner and the local SPEC territory office as appropriate. Volunteer’s role in reporting questionable activity Honest taxpayers and tax preparers preserve the tax system’s integrity. To sustain confidence in the VITA/ TCE program, you must report violations that raise substantial questions about another volunteer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a tax preparer. Taxpayers and tax preparers who violate tax law are subject to civil and criminal penalties. Any person who knowingly aids, assists, procures, counsels, or advises in the preparation or presentation of a materially false or fraudulent return is subject to criminal punishment. IRS-SPEC will refer violations to the IRS CI or TIGTA. 14 Coordinator’s Responsibility If a coordinator determines a volunteer has violated the Volunteer Standards of Conduct, the coordinator needs to immediately remove the volunteer from all site activities and deactivate their access to tax preparation software. In addition, notify both the partner and IRS-SPEC with the details of the violation. The coordinator can notify IRS-SPEC by either contacting their local SPEC territory office or using the external referral process (VolTax). If the coordinator contacts the territory, the territory will use the internal referral process to elevate the referral to headquarters. It is critical that SPEC headquarters be notified as quickly as possible of any potential misconduct by any volunteers to preserve the integrity of the VITA/TCE programs. While reading the newspaper, Violet, the coordinator at Pecan Public Library, learns that one of her volunteers, Dale, was arrested for identity theft. The article indicates Dale has been using other people’s identities to apply for credit cards and then using these cards for unauthorized purchases. Violet sends an email to [email protected] with the details from the news article and deactivates Dale’s access to the tax preparation software. When the site opens the next day, Violet pulls Dale aside and advises him that he cannot work at the site due to his arrest on identity theft charges. External Referral Process If an unethical situation is discovered the external referral process (VolTax) provides taxpayers, volunteers, coordinators, and others an avenue to report potential unethical problems encountered at VITA/TCE sites. Volunteers and taxpayers can send an email to SPEC headquarters [email protected] and copy the partner and the local SPEC territory office as appropriate. The email notification should include your name, contact number, site name, and a detailed description of the incident including the individual's full name, date the incident occurred and the number of taxpayers affected by the violation if applicable. The email address is available in: • Publication 4836 (en-sp), VITA/TCE Free Tax Programs (English & Spanish) • Form 13614-C, Intake/Interview and Quality Review Sheet • Publication 730 (en-sp), Important Tax Records-Envelope (English & Spanish Version) All VITA and TCE sites are required to display Publication 4836 (en-sp), or D-143 for AARP sites, in a visible location to ensure taxpayer awareness of the abili
Publication 4961 (Rev. 10-2024)
More about the Federal Publication 4961 Individual Income Tax TY 2024
This publication provides tax prep volunteers with Standards of Conduct training. All VITA/TCE volunteers (whether paid or unpaid workers) must complete the Volunteer Standards of Conduct (VSC) certification and agree to adhere to the VSC by signing Form 13615, Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement, prior to working at a VITA/TCE site.
We last updated the VITA/TCE Volunteer Standards of Conduct – Ethics Training in January 2025, so this is the latest version of Publication 4961, fully updated for tax year 2024. You can download or print current or past-year PDFs of Publication 4961 directly from TaxFormFinder. You can print other Federal tax forms here.
eFile your Federal tax return now
eFiling is easier, faster, and safer than filling out paper tax forms. File your Federal and Federal tax returns online with TurboTax in minutes. FREE for simple returns, with discounts available for TaxFormFinder users!
File Now with TurboTaxOther Federal Individual Income Tax Forms:
TaxFormFinder has an additional 774 Federal income tax forms that you may need, plus all federal income tax forms.
Form Code | Form Name |
---|---|
Form 1040-ES | Estimated Tax for Individuals |
W-4P | Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments |
W-4V | Voluntary Withholding Request |
Form 1040-EZ | Income Tax Return for Single and Joint Filers With No Dependents |
Form 1040-INS | Form 1040 Instructional Booklet |
View all 775 Federal Income Tax Forms
Form Sources:
The Internal Revenue Service usually releases income tax forms for the current tax year between October and January, although changes to some forms can come even later. We last updated Federal Publication 4961 from the Internal Revenue Service in January 2025.
About the Individual Income Tax
The IRS and most states collect a personal income tax, which is paid throughout the year via tax withholding or estimated income tax payments.
Most taxpayers are required to file a yearly income tax return in April to both the Internal Revenue Service and their state's revenue department, which will result in either a tax refund of excess withheld income or a tax payment if the withholding does not cover the taxpayer's entire liability. Every taxpayer's situation is different - please consult a CPA or licensed tax preparer to ensure that you are filing the correct tax forms!
Historical Past-Year Versions of Federal Publication 4961
We have a total of seven past-year versions of Publication 4961 in the TaxFormFinder archives, including for the previous tax year. Download past year versions of this tax form as PDFs here:
Publication 4961 (Rev. 10-2024)
Publication 4961 (Rev. 11-2023)
Publication 4961 (Rev. 10-2022)
Publication 4961 (Rev. 10-2021)
Publication 4961 (10-2020)
Publication 4961 (Rev. 10-2019)
Publication 4961 (Rev. 10-2018)
TaxFormFinder Disclaimer:
While we do our best to keep our list of Federal Income Tax Forms up to date and complete, we cannot be held liable for errors or omissions. Is the form on this page out-of-date or not working? Please let us know and we will fix it ASAP.