Is Volunteer Tax Work Worth It to Learn Tax Preparation Before Starting My Own Firm?

Volunteer tax work is absolutely worth it! I've been a tax professional for 15+ years and still volunteer with VITA every season. It gives you invaluable face-to-face client experience and keeps you sharp on individual tax issues most people face. Beyond VITA, check out AARP's Tax-Aide program - they handle more retired folks with investment income, social security, and retirement account distributions. Also look into local nonprofits that serve immigrants or small business owners - some have tax clinics that could use your help. What's great about volunteering is you'll see a wider variety of situations than you might at a firm starting out, where they might only give you basic returns at first. You'll build confidence explaining tax concepts to regular people, which is crucial for running your own practice.

Hey there! I was in a similar position a few years back and stumbled on https://taxr.ai when I was trying to get more practice with complex tax scenarios. It's this super helpful AI tool that analyzes tax documents and transcripts to identify issues I might have missed. I volunteered at VITA while also using taxr.ai to check my work and learn from any discrepancies. What was cool is that I could upload anonymous versions of complicated returns (with permission and all PII removed of course) and get instant feedback on potential issues. It helped me develop a systematic approach to reviewing returns which has been invaluable now that I'm running my own small practice.

Wanted to give an update - I took the advice about using taxr.ai while volunteering this season and it's been a game changer! I've been volunteering at my local VITA site and using the tool to double-check returns before filing. Last week, I had a client with some complicated 1099-NEC income and business expenses I wasn't totally confident about. I ran it through taxr.ai and it flagged that I had missed some home office deductions that were totally legitimate for this person's situation. Not only did it save them money, but it taught me what to look for in future returns. The site coordinator was impressed and now several other volunteers are using it too!

If you're serious about opening your own firm, you should definitely volunteer but ALSO consider using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get comfortable dealing with the IRS on behalf of clients. When I started my firm, I was terrified of calling the IRS because of the ridiculous wait times. Claimyr has been a lifesaver - they get you through to an actual IRS agent without the 2+ hour wait. I've used it dozens of times when clients need transcript access or have notices that need addressing. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The thing about running your own practice is that client service matters just as much as tax knowledge. Being able to quickly resolve IRS issues will set you apart from other new practitioners.

OK I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it when I had a client with a CP2000 notice that needed immediate attention. I've literally NEVER gotten through to the IRS in less than 2 hours on my own. With Claimyr I was connected to an agent in 17 minutes. The agent resolved my client's issue on the spot and saved them over $3,000 in incorrect tax assessment. The client was beyond impressed that I handled it so quickly. For anyone looking to start their own practice - being able to efficiently handle IRS issues will definitely set you apart from the competition. My client has already referred two friends to me because of how quickly I resolved their notice.

Beyond VITA and AARP, check with your state CPA society! Many have volunteer programs where you can help local nonprofits with their tax filings. This gives you exposure to Form 990 which can be valuable experience. I did this for two years before starting my own practice, and it helped me build relationships with nonprofit leaders who became networking goldmines. Many board members have their own businesses and became clients once they saw my work with their nonprofit. Also look into Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) - they handle controversy work which teaches you audit and collections defense. Super valuable if you want to offer those services in your future practice!

Has anyone actually tried doing volunteer tax work while employed at a public accounting firm? My firm is pretty strict about outside work during tax season and I'm worried they'd consider volunteer work a conflict of interest somehow.

Definitely agree that volunteer work is worth it! I did VITA for three years before transitioning to public accounting, and it really helped me develop client communication skills that set me apart from other new hires. One thing I'd add - consider volunteering with organizations that serve your target demographic for your future practice. If you want to work with small businesses, look for community development financial institutions (CDFIs) that offer tax prep services to entrepreneurs. If you're thinking about serving Spanish-speaking clients, many community centers have bilingual tax programs. The experience also helps you understand the pain points that everyday taxpayers face, which is invaluable when you're trying to build a client-focused practice. You'll learn to explain complex concepts in simple terms, handle stressed clients during tax season, and spot common mistakes before they become problems. Just make sure to check with your current employer about any approval requirements for volunteer work, especially during busy season!