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VITA and Tax Aide Volunteers
Volunteer Tax Prep Program – Go Direct and the Direct Express® Debit MasterCard®
VITA and Tax Aide Volunteers
You can make a difference
In your work as a VITA or Tax-Aide volunteer, you will meet low-income and elderly taxpayers who still receive their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment by check. You have the opportunity to make their lives safer and easier, and move them toward a better financial future in just a few minutes by motivating them to sign up for safer, easier electronic payments. Two options are available:
- Direct deposit: Go Direct is a national campaign that motivates people who have checking or savings accounts to switch to direct deposit.
- The NEW Direct Express card: a Treasury-recommended prepaid debit card that provides a safe, user-friendly option for people without bank accounts.
What do Go Direct and the Direct Express card have to do with volunteer tax preparation?
Many taxpayers who come to see you also receive Social Security or SSI payments by paper check. Since they are coming to you with their financial documents in hand, it’s an ideal time to talk with them about direct deposit and help them sign up onsite, or give them information to read at home. While your primary goal is to help them file a quality return and claim important tax credits, helping them make wise financial decisions is important too – such as choosing direct deposit or the Direct Express card for federal benefit payments. Tax refunds cannot be posted to the Direct Express card.
How can you help?
No matter what your role, you can help spread the word to taxpayers about safer, easier payment options for their federal benefits. You can also help them enroll. Some ideas include:
- Tax preparer: If a taxpayer receives federal benefit payments, you can discuss direct deposit and the Direct Express card as you prepare the return. Help the taxpayer sign up or bring them to someone who can help them make the switch during quality review. Give the taxpayer Go Direct or Direct Express card information and urge them to read it at home.
- Intake: Add a question to the intake survey asking whether taxpayers receive federal benefit checks. If someone does, flag him/her for a tax preparer or other volunteer.
- Volunteer: Ensure Go Direct and Direct Express card posters and fliers are displayed in the waiting area. Play a Go Direct video where waiting taxpayers can watch it.
- Information table: If you have access to a telephone or the Internet, help taxpayers with bank accounts sign up for direct deposit onsite through www.GoDirect.org or by calling (800) 333-1795. Help taxpayers without bank accounts sign up for the Direct Express card at www.USDirectExpress.com or by calling (877) 212-9991.
Signing up is easy
Direct Deposit
Go Direct offers three quick and easy options to sign up for direct deposit of Social Security or other federal benefit payments:
- Online at www.GoDirect.org
- Call toll-free (800) 333-1795 (English and Spanish)
- Fill out and mail FMS Form 1200, available at www.GoDirect.org
You will need the following information from the taxpayer:
- Name as it appears on the benefit check
- Social Security number
- Checking or savings account number
- Bank or credit union routing number
- Amount of their most recent benefit payment
- Check number from a recent benefit payment or the claim number from the paying agency
Direct Express card
There are three quick and easy ways to sign up for the Direct Express card:
- Online at www.USDirectExpress.com
- Call toll-free (877) 212-9991
- Fill out and mail the paper enrollment form, available at www.USDirectExpress.com
The IRS supports Treasury’s effort
The Internal Revenue Service supports Treasury’s effort to help people switch to safer, easier electronic payment options as part of its commitment to asset-building at volunteer tax preparation sites. Over the past two years, thousands of VITA and TCE sites and volunteers around the country participated by handing out materials, sharing information in financial literacy presentations and helping people choose a better way to get their federal benefit payments. Get started today!
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