San Francisco County, CASA, JBAY, and First Place for Youth have partnered to jointly offer a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site for foster youth this tax year. We are recruiting volunteers to provide free tax services to our foster youth during the 2022 tax season.  Last year, a similar effort delivered $135,000 in tax refunds and stimulus payments into the pockets of 45 current and former foster youth, boosting their income by 14% overall and for young parents  by 42%. Volunteers made a big difference and foster youth appreciated the support they received.

Free Tax Preparer Training

To become a VITA volunteer one must complete the United Way Bay Area’s virtual tax preparer training, offered virtually, beginning in December.

Volunteers must pass one of the following open-book certification tests:

• Basic
• Advanced
• Qualified Experienced

Volunteers are needed during the tax season starting February 2022

Volunteers sign up for weekly shifts to support foster youth in correctly entering their tax information — either during weekly afternoon shifts or at weekend events. Volunteers can support youth virtually using their home computers or can come into the San Francisco Independent Living Skills Program office using COVID-19 safety precautions.

Sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/202575752822054.

We look forward to an exciting tax year, we hope you join us in serving our San Francisco County foster youth!  If you have any questions, please contact Anna Johnson by email at anna@jbay.org.

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