Frequently Asked Questions 

No prior tax experience required! We will help you get there. Training is completely free, and we have many returning tax preparers and staff ready to help with any questions. Taxes are a team effort!

If tax prep isn't for you, we need greeter for each of our site to provide a friendly face. Consider joining us and becoming a greeter with a friend!

1. Staff and other volunteers will be available to answer questions and support you throughout the process.

2. Every tax return is reviewed by a second person before it is signed and transmitted to the IRS.  

3. Even with these quality controls, occasionally errors are made.  The federal Volunteer Protection Act protects you from any liability for errors on a tax return as long as you complete the certification exam and act in a legal and lawful manner.  

• Background checks are required for new volunteers - we cover the costs and will help you get those during training itself 

• Tax prep volunteers should be comfortable with computers (which will be provided)

• Our volunteer opportunities are in-person 

• Training is required- 15 hours of comprehensive for tax preparers and 3 hours for greeters

• Tax prep volunteers must pass the IRS Tax Volunteer Certification test 

For general information or questions on volunteering, contact Anna Woomer at annaw@justharvest.org

All new volunteers are required to have a background check. The reason is that checking for fraud or identity theft helps to make sure taxpayer information is secure. 

We cover the costs of the background checks. We will complete the background checks while at the required trainings with you. 

Every volunteer must complete the IRS Certification exam each year.  It helps to ensure high-quality service and accuracy of returns.  

1 The test is open book, and we have a variety of ways of learning the information. Whether you like to videos, read over scenarios, or to practice returns in advance, we have the resources to help you get there.

2 We have a variety of training options and experienced staff  that will be able to answer your questions. Reach out to Vaughn Schmid at taxtraining@justharvest.org  for questions about training and the test. 

We have over 20 site locations in 5 counties! Find one convenient for you using our map by clicking here.

Registration for volunteering at sites begins on October 28th. Registration for training begins in early December. 

Most volunteer training takes place in early January.  Multiple days and times are available to meet scheduling needs. First, register as a volunteer when registration opens in late October. Then you will receive information about registering for training. Click here to see the full training calendar.

We provide a mix of in-person and online trainings.  Most in-person trainings will take place at CCAC Allegheny Campus at 808 Ridge Ave. on the North Side of Pittsburgh.  One training session for new volunteers will be held at CCAC Boyce Campus in Monroeville.  Click here to see the full training calendar.

New tax preparer volunteers complete about 15 hours of training.  The training commitment is significant, but we want everyone to be well prepared to complete the diverse tax returns we see at the tax sites.  A mix of in-person and virtual training is provided.  New volunteers will attend two 5-hour in-person sessions and complete online training on their own schedule.

Returning volunteer tax preparers complete 3 hours of training plus complete the IRS Certification Exam with in-person or virtual options available.

Yes! It is important that all volunteers get a refresher on the basics and the changes for the upcoming season. This training is around 3 hours and can be done virtually. 

This is a weekly commitment! You will be volunteering at the same site, same time, each week.  

If have other commitments that would prevent you from being at your weekly shift for one or two shifts, let our Free Tax Prep Volunteer Coordinator Anna Woomer know  in advance of training  at annaw@justharvest.org  or call at (412) 440-7943. If you already know your site coordinator, let them know in advance as well. 

We ask that you commit weekly with a 2 week exception to allow consistency in the tax prep options we make available to the community.  If that doesn't work for your schedule, volunteering as a greeter is more flexible and with only 3 hours of training! Greeters are essential to our work. Reach out to our Free Tax Prep Volunteer Coordinator Anna Woomer with scheduling concerns at annaw@justharvest.org  or call at (412) 440-7943. 

For more information about training, contact Vaughn Schmid at taxtraining@justharvest.org 

For general information before your volunteering begins, contact Anna Woomer at annaw@justharvest.org

More than 5% of our taxpayers speak a language other than English. Spanish, Burmese, Nepali, and Arabic are most common, but we see many others languages as well. 

Spanish-speaking volunteers are particularly needed at the Just Harvest South Side site, and the Brentwood site especially welcomes Burmese and Nepali speakers. Whichever site you choose, let us know your language capacity when you register and you may be able to use your language skills as well!  

Continuing Ed Credits are available for Attorneys, CPAs, and Enrolled Agents for some of our tax courses.  Click the link below to find out more.

Continuing Education Credits