STUDENT TAX PREPARATION INTERN, NE Portland

Description

Metropolitan Family Service - CASH Oregon

Internship Position Description

Position Title:                   Student Tax Preparation Intern 

Locations Available:         NE Portland, Community Site

Dept/Program:                 MFS Cash Oregon

Reports To:                      Volunteer and Student Programming Coordinator

Available schedule:          December 16, 2024 – April 30, 2025

Virtual Training (paid): January., flexible hours

Tax Site Open: Jan.- Apr. Thurs-Mon 9am-5pm, Tues 12-8pm; flexible schedule

Work hours:                      4 hours per week

Rate of Pay:                     $15.45 - 15.91/hour

Evaluation Process:          Student employee evaluations will be conducted by the Volunteer and Student Programming Coordinator on a monthly basis, as well as at a final evaluation.

Website:                           https://cashoregon.org/

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Internship Position Description:

Fight poverty. Learn a lifelong skill. MFS CASH Oregon is an economic empowerment program of Metropolitan Family Services that provides free tax preparation services and community outreach to low-income, working families and individuals. Under the supervision of the Volunteer and Student Programming Coordinator the Student Tax Preparation Intern will be responsible for preparing and delivering free volunteer tax preparation services to low income taxpayers using IRS provided tax software throughout the regular tax season in 2024.

Values:

• We use creative and proactive problem solving to build and sustain dynamic community-based programs and quality services
• We believe in the potential of families and individuals at all life stages and focus on prevention, wellness, and independence
• We build strong relationships by collaborating with our funders, partners, and highly trained volunteers, always striving for an extensive commitment to diversity

What you’ll gain from interning:

• Fight poverty and help low-wage earners keep more of what they make!
• Learn a lifelong skill: preparing federal and Oregon tax returns!
• Provide vital tax service to the low-income and limited ability and limited English proficient communities
• Connect with a network of 250 volunteers and staff, including current and retired business and civic leaders
• Learn about the complexities and inequities of the federal and Oregon tax codes and how they can both help and harm marginalized taxpayers
• Acquire strong technical experience through delivering tax preparation
• Develop strong interpersonal skills by interacting with a diverse client base
• Make a meaningful difference in your community!

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Provide direct free service in a compassionate and respectful manner
• Prepare accurate personal tax returns using TaxSlayer software
• Conduct intake interviews with clients to understand their tax situation and collect additional information
• Consistently utilize tax resource materials in order to research and correctly apply tax law
• Share information acquired at tax preparer training regarding tax-related issues with taxpayers, including ways they may improve their personal financial situation

Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must be a current student at an accredited post secondary institution
• Must be 18 years of age
• No tax knowledge or experience required
• Must complete MFS CASH Oregon’s Tax Preparer Training and IRS Certification after hire
• Show compassion, patience and empathy when working with members of underserved communities
• Successful candidates will be organized, detail-oriented, reliable, and punctual
  • Fluency in Spanish or another second language is a plus

Training and Orientation Process:

This position requires 30-40 hours of paid, self-paced online tax preparation training. Training and orientation begins in early January 2024 and will prepare you for passing the IRS volunteer certification exams required for preparing taxes. These exams are open-book with no time limit, and are used to ensure that you can prepare simple tax returns and that you will protect client confidentiality. Our training team will help support you through this process. Once you pass these exams you will be required to set a work schedule for the tax season (January - April).

Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office environment. Position requires ability to sit for extended periods as well as stand occasionally.  Position requires use of computer, telephone, fax machine, copier and may require accessing locations by use of stairs.

Metropolitan Family Service is committed to building a diverse workforce to broaden and deepen our work in the communities we serve. We strongly urge candidates from communities of color, disability, LGBTQIA2S , linguistically diverse populations, older adults and military veterans to consider application to our positions. MFS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Salary : $15 - $16