August 11, 2021
by Alan Pearson (CVITP volunteer)
(Editors’ note: We are pleased to offer this first article prepared by a fellow CVITP volunteer. We do not necessarily agree with all of the views expressed by our contributors. Below, we welcome reader comments on this article.)
I prepared the following for people who are considering volunteering with the CVITP and for agencies who are thinking of hosting a clinic.
Most prospective volunteers and host organizations would probably assume that the best volunteer would be someone with accounting or bookkeeping skills, or someone good at arithmetic. Of course, those skills would be good for a volunteer to have, but I wouldn’t discourage someone who didn’t.
I’d suggest that a good volunteer has skills in two areas, one technical, the other inter-personal.
First, let’s look at the technical area. Instead of, or not only, having accounting, bookkeeping, or arithmetic skills, a good volunteer should be organized and able to think logically. It’s important to be able to sort through and to know whether to accept or put aside documents a client might present, and then to know where the information should be entered into the software. Regardless of the number of years of experience you might have as a filer, you can still run into an issue you haven’t encountered before, so you need to be able to think about the issue and know where to look or go for assistance.
You should do your best to be conversant with the tax rules which are relevant to the clients you will be assisting, and to keep up to date with any changes. If you’re new to filing income tax and benefit returns, at a minimum being conversant would involve viewing, at the beginning of your first tax season, the training materials the CVITP makes available on its website for volunteers. If you’re an experienced filer, being conversant, at a minimum, would involve viewing the “What’s New?” webinar and any client scenarios that are relevant and new to you.” You should also be comfortable with computers, and able to learn how to use the tax filing software.
Second, interpersonal skills are equally important. Clients should be treated with dignity and respect. Just because they have little income and are getting a free service doesn’t mean they should get what they pay for. I always stand, shake the hand of each client, and introduce myself. Many clients are nervous about the process of filing, and not always comfortable with the prospect of dealing with “the (government) tax man.” I think it’s important to be calm and reassuring.
As a volunteer with a host agency, you should also be respectful of the host agency, its staff, its policies and procedures, and the office environment, and remember that you are a face of the organization even if you don’t work for it. You are accountable to the host agency (and to the CRA, of course) and should act responsibly and with integrity.
Even though you are “only” a volunteer, you also have the right to be treated with respect, supported and valued, and to work in a safe environment. If it’s not working for you, you can leave; you’re a volunteer!