VNTW-VITA/TCE PROGRAM

History Of VITA/TCE:

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)/ Tax Counseling For The Elderly (TCE) program originated from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 1969 as a result of an increased emphasis on taxpayer education programs due to the Tax Reform Act of 1969.

In 1970, its first year of operation nationwide, 104,000 taxpayers were assisted by approximately 7,500 volunteers. In 1994, nearly 1.6 million taxpayers were assisted by 51,091 volunteers at 8,626 sites. In 2001, over 2 million taxpayers were assisted by 44,203 volunteers at 8,564 sites. This increase is a result of the tremendous support of the program by volunteers.

In Houston, over 6,000 taxpayers are assisted by over 600 volunteers at 40 sites. VN TeamWork (VNTW) has collaborated with the VITA program since 1996. Each year, over 120 VNTW volunteers at 6 sites assist over 1,400 taxpayers.

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VNTW Collaborates With VITA/TCE:

The Vietnamese-American community takes great pride in the accomplishments that we have made over the last two decades. However, we take even greater pride in the fact that we have always strived to give back to our society and encouraged others to take an active role in the social fabric of our adopted homeland. Toward that goal, for the 14^th straight year, VNTW collaborates with the IRS to participate in the VITA Program to assist low-income, elderly, physically challenged, and non-English speaking taxpayers in filing their federal income tax returns free of charge. The program consists of 2 phases:

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Phase One - Training Schedule:

From December 19^th, 2009 to January 17^th, 2010, VNTW trains volunteers in tax law and electronic filing (eFile).

● Basic Course: Designed for volunteers with little or no tax experience. There will be a minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction to learn the tax law. Complete attendance, testing, and registration through our office are mandatory to participate in this program. It will be held on Saturday, January 2, Sunday, January 03, and Saturday, January 9, 2010 (8:00 AM - 6:00 PM).

● Refresher Course: Designed for volunteers with previous tax experience such as CPA and/ or previous certified VITA members. There will be a minimum of 8 hours classroom instruction to learn the new tax law. Complete attendance, testing, and registration through our office are mandatory to participate in this program. It will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2009 (8:00 AM - 6:00 PM).

● Electronic filing: We offer an eFile course for the volunteers who pass tax law from the Basic Course or Refresher Course. There will be a minimum of 16 hours classroom to learn the electronic filing. Complete attendance, testing, and registration through our office are mandatory to participate in this program. It will be held on Saturday, January 16 and Sunday, January 17, 2010 (8:00 AM - 6:00 PM).

● Sites Kick-Off Meeting: Designed for all volunteers to plan for a better tax season. At the meeting, the volunteers will have a chance to get to know their Site Managers, Assistant Site Managers, Intake and Quality Control Coordinators and the rest of the site volunteer members before they start working with them at the sites. The volunteers will also have a LAST chance to discuss and choose which group and which site they will belong to for the rest of the program period. The meeting will take around 4 hours including luncheon. It will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2010 (10:AM - 2:00PM).

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Phase Two - Sites:

Volunteers help to prepare Form 1040EZ, Form 1040A, and basic Form 1040 income tax returns, including Schedules A and B. Volunteers also explain the availability and advantages of tax credits including the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Credit for the Elderly, and Dependent Care Credit.

From Saturday, January 30^th to Saturday, April 10^th, 2010 (10:00 AM � 4:00 PM), certified volunteers will assist taxpayers in efiling at 6 sites:

● HONG KONG MARKET #2 (SouthEast)

10909 Scarsdale @ Beamer Rd.

Houston, TX 77089

● HONG KONG MARKET #3 (NorthWest)

13400 Veterans Memorial Dr. @ Bammel North Houston Rd.

Houston, TX 77014

● GOLDEN BAMBOO VILLAGE / LANG TRE (SouthWest)

12010 Dashwood Dr

Houston, TX 77072

● VN TEAMWORK CENTER / HIỆP LỰC (SouthWest)

11210 Bellaire, Suite 118 @ Boone

Houston, TX 77072

● MY HOA MARKET (SouthWest)

13201 Bellaire @ Synott

Houston, TX 77083

● H-E-B #575 (SouthWest)

14498 Bellaire Blvd. @ Highway 6

Houston, TX 77072

All volunteers MUST have at least 25 hours practice experience at their sites prior to certification as a volunteer of VNTW-VITA/TCE for the 2010 tax year. Each volunteer will receive a Recognition Certificate in May 2010. The volunteers are very proud of their qualifications and of the team reputation for the last 14 years of excellence in services. They are also proud of the number of stars on their name badges. Each star represents one year of service. The most senior volunteers wear 14 stars.

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Why should I join this program?

● Would you like to prepare your own income tax return this year?

● Would you like to acquire new skills and free training?

● Would you like to impress an employer?

● Would you like to learn leadership and teamwork?

● Would you like to have a chance to do interesting and challenging work? And most importantly,

● Would you like to join the program, which supports "Vietnamese giving back to the community"?

Then, the VNTW-VITA/TCE Program may be just what you are looking for. VNTW provides volunteers with 40 hours of excellent tax preparation training (24 tax law and 16 electronic filing) and asks volunteers to give only 30 hours (6 hours each Saturday) to assist at one of 6 locations around town. However to ensure in keeping the quality of service, we ask you to deposit either $100 as a new volunteer or $50 as a returning volunteer to secure your training and service.

So, please click here to fill out the Registration Form now, then mail a check (*) and submit it back to us by December 15, 2009. Do not let this excellent opportunity pass you by!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate call us at 281-495-8936.

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CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Visitors: 69124

10909 Scarsdale @ Beamer Rd.

Houston, TX 77089

13400 Veterans Memorial Dr. @ Bammel North Houston Rd.

Houston, TX 77014

12010 Dashwood Dr

Houston, TX 77072

11210 Bellaire, Suite 118 @ Boone

Houston, TX 77072

13201 Bellaire @ Synott

Houston, TX 77083

14498 Bellaire Blvd. @ Highway 6

Houston, TX 77072