In June, RAISE Texas brought together 87 staff and volunteers from 46 Texas VITA programs for a collaborative conference focused on sharing best practices, addressing challenges, and exchanging innovative ideas.  The convening featured a tour of the BakerRipley Tax Center, the country's largest VITA program, which completed over 36,000 tax returns during the 2024 tax season.

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2024 VITA Presentations (* = slides)

Building a Stronger Financial Future: How IRS Direct File and the Inflation Reduction Act Benefit Texans
Rebecca Thompson, Senior Advisor, IRA Program Office, U.S. Dept. of Treasury
Ronald Newman, Senior Advisor, IRA Program Office, U.S. Dept. of Treasury

 

Emerging Issues in Low Income Taxpayer Clinics*
Mandi Matlock, JD, Staff Attorney, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
 

How Harris County Supports and Benefits from VITA
Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia

 

Skill-Building Sessions 

Tax Credit Messaging: Pitching Strategies for Local VITA Funding and Peer Feedback*
Jenna Severson, Senior Communications Strategist, Economic Security Project

 

Mastering ITIN Applications: Everything You Need to Know* 
Janet Herrgesell, Certifying Acceptance Agent and Senior Tax Program Manager, Foundation Communities 

Wellness in the Trenches: Self-Care Strategies During Tax Season 
Nicole Milton, Training Manager, Mental Health America of Greater Houston 

 

Mastering Seasonal Staffing: Hiring & Internship Strategies* 
Ariel Carballo Jones, and Markitha Labbe, Talent Management, BakerRipley Raymond Nguyen, Director, BakerRipley Neighborhood Tax Centers

 

National Partner Forums

TaxSlayer Q&A 
Kim Manuel, TaxSlayer

 

Code for America Research and Q&A (Get Your Refund)* 

Rae Pilarski, Associate Program Director

Jazmin Estrada, Partner Support Specialist

 

VITA Program Highlights

Del Mar College VITA Program*  
Adria Palacios Vasquez, CPA, Assistant Professor of Accounting

 

Dallas Community Tax Centers* 
Sofia Sanchez-Morales, Senior Program Manager, Foundation Communities

 

BakerRipley Neighborhood Tax Center Tour & Documents
About BakerRipley*
Volunteer Program*

Volunteer Handbook*

Client Intake Survey*

Client Intake Form*

Red Tracking Sheet*

Paper and In-Progress Blue Tracking Sheet*

 

 

Thank you to JPMorgan Chase for supporting RAISE Texas and our work to increase access to valuable tax credits and free tax preparation services.