Open Registration - 2026 Filing Season - Income Tax preparers
All students whether new and/or returning, please register here for your interest in training in the Fall of 2025.
Community Service-learning Engagement for 9, 10, 11 & 12 Grade students in Middlesex & neighboring counties.
United Way Initiative will provide Free training for Middlesex County high school students for its VITA Service-learning Program. It is open to all high school students. Convenient afterschool, evening & weekend hours available for the student's participation.
Requirements:
Commit to a minimum of 25 hours during the tax filing season (February 1 - April 30, 2026)
Complete the IRS certification to the Basic Level
Students will use techniques learned during training to conduct efficient Intake Interviews; will review best practices for protecting taxpayer's personal information during our Ethics & Quality Review session; will learn to apply the appropriate tax laws in determining the correct filing status for clients; will be able to determine qualifying dependents on parent's tax returns; will be able to differentiate among the types of income, (taxable vs non-taxable, earned vs unearned); become familiar with the popular credits and deductions available for working parents with dependents. Students will also receive hands-on training in navigating Taxslayer, our professional tax software through simulation returns practice. Workshops also incorporate online training for homework review and practice problems.
Students may volunteer at any one or more of United Way community host sites in Milltown, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, Highland Park, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Sayreville, Carteret and South Amboy to provide this invaluable service.
INCOME TAX PREPARER: Prepare Basic Federal & State tax returns using a professional tax software. Conduct peer-to-peer quality review of returns. Work alongside tax professionals & experienced IRS Certified tax preparers.
Students will work in group settings, will learn to focus on detail skills, will enhance their interpersonal skills, receive community service hours, build their resumes. Hours volunteered during the tax filing season (Feb - April) will qualify for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.
Please include the name of your high school when registering. Workshops planned dates are November & December 2025
Sessions: Convenient Day, Evening and Weekend from 12-15 hours over 3 - 4 days.
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Millions of low-to-moderate-income taxpayers rely on free, basic tax preparation each year, and thousands of ordinary VITA volunteers like you prepare these returns! The United Way of Central Jersey (UWCJ) needs you on its tax prep team for 2026!
Last season, 114 students (high school and college) were among the 196 volunteers that participated in this critical asset-building engagement. Collectively over 4,000 returns were prepared. The results - Over $2 million in refunds returned to taxpayers in the community in the form of credits and refunds. Volunteers saved taxpayers collectively over $500,000 in tax preparation fees.
United Way of Central Jersey teams up with the IRS and community partners each year to provide free tax services through VITA. United Way and its collaborators are the leading providers of volunteer income tax assistance in Middlesex County.
"This service is aimed at low and moderate-income taxpayers," said Gloria Aftanski, President of United Way of Central Jersey.
The IRS partners with United Way to direct a coalition of community partners in order to increase the reach of the VITA.
The Middlesex County, NJ VITA Coalition is recruiting new/additional volunteers in various capacities to help with this effort. Volunteers must complete certification timely and be ready to start by February 1, 2026, through April 30, 2026.
United Way of Central Jersey is located at 32 Ford Avenue in Milltown NJ 08850
Volunteer Positions:
Tax Preparer
Prepare Federal & State returns. Volunteers receive hands-on training using a professional tax software. (all 3 certifications needed)
Tax Preparer assistant:
Greet clients, review intake form for completion. conduct taxpayer interviews to gather additional information, assist clients with limited English proficiency (translator), assist client with retrieving online statements, review simple completed returns with clients. Training is provided. Only the first 2 certifications are needed.
Certifications requirements:
Ethics Certification
Intake/Interview & Quality Review Certification
Basic Level Certification
