Virtual VITA Terms and Conditions
Please carefully read the following:
These terms and conditions are required whenever the taxpayer’s return is completed and quality reviewed in a non-face-to-face environment. The site must explain to the taxpayer the process this site will use to prepare the taxpayer’s return. If applicable, taxpayers must also be advised of all procedures and the associated risk if their data will be transferred from one site location to another site location.
You are responsible for answering all of the above-mentioned questions truthfully and to the best of your abilities. If any of the information entered here is incorrect or of fraudulent nature, Virtual VITA has the right to refuse service to you now and in the future.
Virtual VITA is a pilot program that aims to bring traditional in-person tax services to a digital and remote platform. As a result, Virtual VITA will keep your data and personally identifiable information secure. To do this Virtual VITA will undertake the following protocols:
Using a transport layer security protocol (SSL) to encrypt all uploaded files
Minimizing the number of people who can access the online registration form
Deleting all client documents from preparers’ personal computers immediately after tax appointments, which includes removing the files from their respective “Trash bins”
Training all Virtual VITA personnel to comply with these data security protocols
Working with IRS oversight in order to ensure that Virtual VITA complies with federal VITA standards, as well as data security protocols for the online transition of personally identifiable information
Note that Virtual VITA may send the client’s documents to another VITA location in order to (a) interview the taxpayer, (2) prepare the tax return, or (3) perform a quality review. Otherwise the information will remain on JotForm’s encrypted storage space, and will not be accessed after the return is submitted without explicit consent from the client.
Furthermore, we cannot disclose your tax return information to third parties for purposes other than the preparation and filing of your tax return without your consent. If you consent to the disclosure of your tax return information, Federal law may not protect your tax return information from further use or distribution.
To contact you, we will reach out either by phone or by email. We will contact you only for matters related to your tax return and will always announce ourselves as members of United Way's tax assistance program.
Throughout the tax return, you are responsible for communicating accurate information about your financial situation. Virtual VITA is not responsible if untruthful information is submitted to the IRS. During your phone call with the tax preparer, you should keep all the relevant documents in front of you for easy reference. These documents include:
Picture identification for yourself and spouse (if applicable)
Forms W-2, 1099 and/or any other income documents to support income, documents for the Expenses and Life Events as listed on the registration form
Social security cards (or other allowed social security verification documents) or Individual Tax Identification Numbers for you, your spouse, and potential dependents (if applicable)
Any other documents required to prepare your tax return
During the quality review process, you (and your spouse if applicable) will have to:
Participate during the quality review process
Review your completed tax return to ensure the names, social security numbers, address, banking information, income, and expenses are correct. As indicated earlier, this is important because you and your spouse (if applicable) are ultimately responsible for all of the information on the tax return
Sign Form 8879, the IRS e-file Signature Authorization, after quality reviewing is completed.
To ensure that you are receiving quality services and an accurately prepared tax return at the volunteer site, IRS employees randomly select free tax preparation sites for review. If errors are identified, the site will make the necessary corrections. IRS does not keep any personal information from your reviewed tax return and this allows them to rate our VITA/TCE return preparation programs for accurately prepared tax returns.
(Sources: IRS Form 13614-C and Form 14446)