Welcome! dancing with the stars ^ ta x Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Annual Site Coordinator Conference November 4, 2015

WiFi dancing with the stars ^ ta x Username: California Ballroom 2 Password:

2015 Results dancing with the stars ^ ta x

Alameda County dancing with the stars ^ ta x 60 tax assistance sites 980 volunteers 22,246 returns $8.9 million EITC $4.4 million CTC $25.2 million total refunds

Contra Costa County dancing with the stars ^ ta x 38 tax assistance sites 333 volunteers 12,265 returns $3.4 million EITC $2 million CTC $12 million total refunds

Marin County dancing with the stars ^ ta x 10 tax assistance sites 123 volunteers 3,281 returns $1.1 million EITC $645k CTC $3.3 million total refunds

Napa County dancing with the stars ^ ta x 11 tax assistance sites 78 volunteers 1,939 returns $944k EITC $846k CTC $3 million total refunds

San Francisco County dancing with the stars ^ ta x 45 tax assistance sites 1,013 volunteers 20,598 returns $8.2 million EITC $3.8 million CTC $22.9 million total refunds

San Mateo County dancing with the stars ^ ta x 33 tax assistance sites 372 volunteers 9,203 returns $2.3 million EITC $1.2 million CTC $9.3 million total refunds

Solano County dancing with the stars ^ ta x 21 tax assistance sites 107 volunteers 4,920 returns $1 million EITC $663k CTC $4.4 million total refunds

Grand Total dancing with the stars ^ ta x 218 tax assistance sites 3,006 volunteers 74,452 returns $26 million EITC $13.6 million CTC $80 million total refunds

Saving is hard. We make it easy. dancing with the stars ^ ta x

Site Integration Manual Review Purpose  To provide you with information & resources you can use to promote savings at your site.  Give you the tools to encourage & reinforce positive financial security habits.  To help clients continue to make the most of their hard-earned dollars by telling them about savings options and giving them the confidence to save all or part of their refund.

Addressing Barriers Fact Of VITA clients receiving a large refund, most likely, this will be the greatest one-time payout they will receive all year. Spend or Save? Taxpayers have a choice. It is our job to prompt clients to think about savings and sell them on the concept and benefit of it. All deserve the ask! Not talking with clients about savings is a barrier. All taxpayers should be given an equal opportunity to become aware of the saving options while keeping the message positive and encouraging.

Engaging your Volunteers Training Savings should be incorporated into all training & orientations. Incentives Client incentives work! Set a site savings goal and make it visible! Make it fun! Participate in regional savings competition. Feedback Volunteers value feedback- recognize them, especially if they’re doing a great job.

Client Outreach Savings message should be introduced and reinforced even before the client comes to your VITA site. Before: Consider sending reminder in December & January If you schedule appointments- tell them to bring their savings information. During: Post EKS savings material at your site, especially in the waiting area.

Client Outreach cont’d. During cont’d. Have a designated “financial coach” float around and talk to clients about savings. Have tax preparers and quality reviewers talk to clients about savings options and incentives. After: If client saved, congratulate them! Don’t forget their incentive! If they didn’t- say “maybe next year!”

Client Flow

Savings Talking Points Gauge taxpayers’ interest in saving with simple, brief message or question (e.g., “Would you like information on your saving options?”). If taxpayers state they are not interested in saving money, accept that and do not continue to promote saving. Never pressure taxpayers to save. It is their decision, and they know what is best for them. It is important to respect whatever decision they make. Educate taxpayers on the benefits and value of saving — it helps taxpayers increase their financial stability and achieve their financial goals. More specifically, it may help them be prepared for an unplanned event, emergency or expense and avoid borrowing costs. Share personal stories

Incentives Clients who save $50 or more can participate in the following: EKS Raffle – chance to win $100 (10 winners) D2D National Sweepstakes – chance to win $100 or $25k EKS Tote Gift – all savers get a bag!

Qualifying Savings Products Existing savings accounts Savings Bonds myRA – retirement savings account backed by US Dept. of Treasury

Data Collection To determine number of “savers” you had at your site, we will use the number of Form 8888s reported to EKS by IRS. When enrolling your clients in either EKS/D2D sweepstakes, they must verify using a Form 8888 to win.

CFPB: Tax Time Savings Pilot What we can expect from participating in the pilot: Promising practices on ways to encourage saving at tax time; Educational materials for consumers about saving at tax time including posters, brochures, flyers on ways to save, and a video that can be used for training and looped in waiting rooms (where technology is available) that describes saving options; Webinar-based training and corresponding manuals for trainers, volunteers, and staff of participating tax programs on approaches to implement promising practices at tax sites; An additional training module to be used to train volunteers specifically on how to help consumers buy a bond or split their refund using IRS provided tax preparation software.

Savings Resources Volunteer Cheat Sheet EKS Website: Savings-dedicated page for coordinators Volunteer training materials with savings incorporated Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Website: Your fellow coordinators!

Now It’s Your Turn Barriers Volunteer Engagement Client Outreach Client Flow To-Dos

Franchise Tax Board dancing with the stars ^ ta x

ACA Updates dancing with the stars ^ ta x

Marketing dancing with the stars ^ ta x

Volunteer Outreach dancing with the stars ^ ta x Volunteers are our #1 asset Can only serve more taxpayers if we have volunteers Each year ramping up volunteer recruitment

Volunteer Outreach Resources dancing with the stars ^ ta x Volunteer digital ads Web banners on EKS website Sign up through website Press release Recruitment flyer Videos

Client Outreach Trying to make the most impact across a wide region Evolving messaging EKS marketing meant to supplement your own outreach Offer print and web resources

Client Outreach Website 211 Flyers: Customizable (3 languages) Postcards (3 languages) Press release Flyer shell Digital advertising Videos

Now It’s Your Turn dancing with the stars ^ ta x 1.Who is your audience? 2.What is the goal of your communication? 3.What is your hook? 4.What is the best way to package your message? 5.When will you share the message?

Federal Tax Law Updates dancing with the stars ^ ta x

Volunteer Retention dancing with the stars ^ ta x

dancing with the stars ^ tax Daniel TejadaClaudia Velasco The Women’s Building – San Francisco 550 returns a season 2 days a week – Sat. and Thurs. 10 – 15 volunteers per shift/day 2016 will be 3rd year as a site coordinator Monument Impact– Contra Costa 350 returns a season 2 days a week 6 tax preparers and 2 interpreters per shift/day 2016 will be 7th year as a site coordinator Claudia Clerc-OlveraArmando Martinez Canal Alliance – Marin 500 returns a season 2 days a week – 4 hour shifts (Sun. and Wed.) 6 tax preparers and 2 interpreters per shift/day 2016 will be 3rd year as a site coordinator Monument Crisis Center – Contra Costa 150 returns last season 3 to 4 days a week 3 to 8 tax preparers per shift/day and 20 total 2016 will be 2nd year as a site coordinator