Volunteer with UMBC VITA
Serve real clients and get IRS certified. No tax experience required — we train every volunteer and walk you through certification.
Real skills. Real impact. A résumé line that stands out.
Learn something valuable
Gain hands-on experience with tax law, client interviewing, and financial software — skills that transfer to accounting, finance, law, and beyond.
Serve your community
Every return you prepare is one a neighbor didn’t have to pay someone else to file.
Earn IRS certification
Complete recognized IRS training and pass the certification exam. You’ll also earn a UMBC microcredential — a digital badge that names the specific skills behind it, so it says more to an employer than a line on your résumé.
Ways to help
Tax Preparer
Sit down with clients and prepare returns using IRS-approved software after completing certification.
Quality Reviewer
Double-check completed returns for accuracy before they’re filed — a great way for returning volunteers to level up their skills.
Greeter & Intake
Welcome clients, confirm their documents, and keep the day running smoothly. No tax certification needed — just the short Volunteer Standards of Conduct quiz and a signed agreement.
From sign-up to certified, in four steps
- Apply — tell us a little about yourself and your interest. No tax background necessary.
- Train — complete about 15 hours of training with support from experienced VITA volunteers.
- Certify — pass the IRS-mandated certification test for the role you’d like to fill.
- Serve — give 30–120 hours across the spring semester, helping clients file free, accurate returns.
No matter how I look at it, joining UMBC VITA has benefited my life in every way. My resume leveled up, my network increased, I’ve gained job opportunities, I’ve learned the skill of doing my own taxes, and the good karma of giving back to the community has been so valuable. I now understand why VITA volunteers come back year after year — the time spent volunteering is so rewarding!
Isell Reyes · 2023–2024 Volunteer
Join the UMBC VITA team
Have a few Saturdays to give this spring? Fill out our volunteer application and we’ll follow up with training details.
See what a season looks like
Training dates, application deadlines, and what a Saturday at the site actually looks like.