Title: Go Direct An AssetBuilding Strategy for Volunteer Tax Preparation Sites Program Guide
1Go DirectAn Asset-Building Strategy
forVolunteer Tax Preparation SitesProgram
Guide
2Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- What is Go Direct?
- Go Direct is a national campaign, sponsored by
the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the
Federal Reserve Banks, to motivate people who
receive Social Security, Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) and other federal benefit payments
by check to switch to direct deposit. - The campaign reaches out to people through
organizations and people they know and trust to
inform them about the advantages of direct
deposit, and help them sign up for it. Direct
deposit is the best way to receive federal
benefit payments because its safer, easier and
provides more control over ones money.
3Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- Why is Go Direct important?
- About 12 million people still receive their
federal benefit payment by check each month
they tend to be lower income and less educated
seniors, and people with disabilities. - Direct deposit helps protect seniors and others
from identity theft and fraud. - Direct deposit helps people gain control over
their money, so theres no worry about whether
the mail will find them. Money can be accessed
from virtually anywhere. - It costs 80 cents more to issue a paper check
than a direct deposit payment thats money that
could otherwise remain in the Social Security
Trust Fund.
4Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- Go Direct and Volunteer Tax Preparation
- The Internal Revenue Service supports Go Direct
as part of its commitment to asset-building. - Many taxpayers at VITA and TCE sites receive
Social Security or SSI checks. - Direct deposit is a positive step for taxpayers
on their way to financial literacy, and also
helps protect them against identity theft and
fraud. - Last season, over 1,200 VITA and TCE sites
participated with Go Direct.
5Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- Easy to implement
- Your main focus during tax season is to help
taxpayers file a quality return and claim their
earned income or other tax credits. Helping them
make wise financial decisions through financial
literacy and safety education is important too. - Go Direct understands your priorities and has
created this program with your needs in mind.
6Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- Go Direct offers
- An easy way for your sites to achieve
asset-building goals - Volunteer training
- Activities that will not take time away from tax
preparation - Free materials
- Help with recruitment of financial institutions
through our partner network - Help with publicity for Super Saturday or other
kick-off events
7Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- Add Go Direct to your tax site(s)
- Train volunteers
- Order materials for display and distribution
- Gain publicity for your site(s)
- Implement Go Direct programming at your site(s)
8Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- Train volunteers on the basics of Go Direct
- Tax preparers and other site volunteers are a
trusted source of financial information. Educate
them about direct deposit with a short Volunteer
Guide (available online in the tool kit) - Guide contents include
- Brief overview of Go Direct and its objectives
- How to talk with taxpayers about direct deposit
- Enrollment options
9Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- Display and distribute Go Direct materials
- Go Direct offers free marketing materials that
outline the benefits - of direct deposit and how taxpayers can sign up.
- How to order Go Direct materials
- Visit the special Partners section at
www.GoDirect.org to access the Volunteer Tax Prep
tool kit. - Preview available materials, including flyers,
posters, table display cards, video, pens and
buttons. - Download the materials order form and fill in
requested quantities based on the provided
guidelines. - Fax or email your completed form to Go Direct.
Your materials will arrive within two weeks.
10Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- Work with the Go Direct team to publicize
- your site(s)
- Go Direct provides tools to help you promote your
involvement - with Go Direct
- Media alert templates around Super Saturday,
kick-off and other tax season events - Talking points for IRS representatives, coalition
leaders and volunteers - Newsletter article templates that can be
published during tax preparation activities - Campaign representatives can help with publicity
in select cities
11Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- Implement Go Direct programming
- Volunteer preparers discuss direct deposit and
sign up interested taxpayers at their work
station (by phone or online) - Intake volunteers flag check recipients and
encourage them to talk with a designated direct
deposit point person during quality review - Show Go Direct video in waiting area
12Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- More ideas for your site(s)
- Invite a bank or credit union to host an
information table sign people up for accounts
and direct deposit at the same time - Display materials prominently
- Play a financial literacy PowerPoint on
continuous scroll in the waiting area - Visit www.GoDirect.org for ideas and read case
studies from 2006
13Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- Enrollment how to sign up a taxpayer
- Online Visit www.GoDirect.org
- By phone Call the toll-free Go Direct helpline
800-333-1795 (English and Spanish) - In person Visit your local bank, credit union or
Social Security office - FMS Form 1200 Fill out and mail a government
form
14Volunteer Tax Preparation Program
- For more information, or to join the IRS and Go
Direct in this important initiative - Call your Go Direct campaign representative, or
the partner hotline at (952) 346-6055 or - Email GoDirect_at_webershandwick.com