1. Making the Choice: Alternative Tax Preparation Services for IRS-VITA Sites

2. What is Facilitated Self Assistance?
Creates choice for preparation method
Taxpayer prepares their own taxes with support from VITA-certified volunteer tax preparer
Uses a computer on site, at home, at library, at school
Free federal and state return with higher AGI thresholds

3. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
VITA Site Objectives
Vulnerable populations claim valuable tax credits
Provide tax preparation to eligible taxpayers
Increase quantity of taxpayers served
SNAP
Cooking Demos
Health Insurance
Bank Accounts
Savings & Refund Splits
FSA
Virtual VITA
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

4. What are your Desired Outcomes?
Taxpayer Support
Consumer Protection/Financial Empowerment
Expand Community Service Offerings
Quantity/Quality/Diversity
Vision for Stronger Organizational Footprint
Partners/Services/Volunteers

5. Defining Ideal FSA Clients
Words to describe Ideal Client
Characteristics of Ideal Clients
Has an
Simple return
Young
Tech savvy or tech comfortable
"Gung ho"
Someone who shops online
Young (Age 20-35)
W-2 Income
Single Filers
Claiming EITC and CTC
1st time filers
College students

6. Defining the Other FSA Clients
Clients needing additional assistance
Those with ACA/health insurance questions
Those afraid to do it themselves
Filers claiming America Opportunity Credit:
Taxpayer’s understanding of status as a dependent
Complexity in reporting appropriate costs of education
Clients filing with another platform but unable to finish
Defining the Other FSA Clients

7. Cycle for FSA Planning Role of FSA Resources Required
Volunteer Recruiting & Training
Marketing & Messaging
Optimizing Client Flow
Reporting Requirements

8. Results of IRS-WIRA Consumer Survey
Both first time and repeat clients that are comfortable using computers had an easy time using FSA
Perceived ease of use and the convenience of preparing their taxes at any time were rated as the most important factors influencing their choice to use FSA Remote.
Most VITA/TCE clients completed their return in 60 minutes or less.
1 in 4 of clients indicated they required assistance while completing their return.
Almost all clients willing to try FSA next year
Source: 2014 VITA/TCE FSA and Virtual Survey At-A-Glance Presentation | W&I Research and Analysis
Both first time and repeat clients (77% among both groups) indicate they are comfortable using computers, and had an easy time using MyFreeTaxes.com (74% among first time clients, 76% among repeat clients).
Perceived ease of use (83% among first time clients, 86% among repeat clients) and the convenience of preparing their taxes at any time (83% among first time clients, 84% among repeat clients) were rated as the most important factors influencing their choice to use FSA Remote.
Overall, availability of either a My-Tx-Help (31%) or Live Chat assistor (34%) were considered to be the least important factors among VITA/TCE clients.
The largest proportion of first time (69%) and repeat (72%) VITA/TCE clients completed their return in 60 minutes or less.
The overwhelming majority (95% among first time clients, 97% among repeat clients) of VITA/TCE respondents indicated they would be willing to use this service in the future.

9. What problems can FSA solve?
FSA can solve
FSA can’t solve
Capacity
Funding stability
Overflow
Client/product distinction
All taxpayer needs
Out-of-scope
Risk management contingency planning

10. Defining the Other FSA Clients
Promising Practices for next year!
Role: Connecting with younger audience in computer lab settings, incorporating it into new educational partnerships.
Resources: Repeat Business, “once the TP tries FSA, they generally like it and will do it again. They do just fine.”
Volunteers: Volunteers complete certification with FSA.
Marketing: Leverage large employer (financial aid offices, high schools and CBO partners) with prewritten they distribute.
Client Flow: Stand alone sites at community colleges and workforce locations.
Reporting: Collect your data onsite
Defining the Other FSA Clients

11. For more information: Lee Davenport Taxpayer Opportunity Network
linkedin.com/in/leedavenport bit.ly/TONLIST