Join us for the August SPEC Partner and Employee Zoom Session, featuring Gary Iskowitz, whose distinguished career reflects decades of service and leadership in tax administration, education, and volunteerism. Gary has had an extraordinary career with the IRS, taught at several universities, founded the California State University, Northridge VITA program in 1970, and served on both the Commissioner’s Advisory Group and the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. He also hosted a weekly tax segment on ABC Los Angeles’ Eyewitness News. His longstanding commitment to taxpayer service and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program continues to inspire volunteers and partners across the nation. The session will include a panel discussion with Mr. Iskowitz and representatives from the High School, College and University (HSCU) Team, Outreach Team, and Volunteer Recruitment Team, who will share insights, experiences, and best practices for strengthening volunteer recruitment and partner engagement.

Watch the recording HERE.

The SPEC Virtual Partner Recognition Ceremony celebrates the outstanding contributions of our community partners whose dedication and collaboration help expand access to free tax preparation services and financial education. This ceremony recognizes the invaluable role our partners play in advancing the SPEC mission and serving taxpayers across the nation.

Watch the recorded ceremony HERE.

The SPEC Military Recognition Ceremony honors the service and commitment of our military partners, volunteers, and organizations that support military members, veterans, and their families through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This ceremony recognizes their continued dedication to ensuring our military communities have access to quality tax preparation services and resources.

To view the recording, please CLICK HERE.

The Field Site Visit and Remote Site Review Training is designed to help staff build the skills needed to conduct effective site visits and reviews, both in person and remotely. This recorded training walks through the review process, outlines expectations, and shares practical tips for preparing, engaging with sites, and documenting results. The session supports consistent, confident reviews and helps ensure staff are well-prepared to carry out site visit and remote review responsibilities.

2026 FSV/RSR Partner Training Recording – Click Here

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Symposium brings together tax professionals, community partners, and stakeholders to explore current developments, compliance challenges, and outreach strategies related to the EITC. This recorded session features expert insights and practical perspectives on improving program integrity while ensuring eligible taxpayers receive the credits they’ve earned. Whether you’re involved in policy, enforcement, or taxpayer assistance, this symposium offers valuable context and actionable takeaways to support effective EITC administration.

2026 EITC Symposium Recording – Click Here

VITA/TCE partners and volunteers,

I want to take this opportunity to send my heartfelt thanks for another successful filing season.

This filing season required more flexibility than ever. You have taken all the lessons learned over the past two pandemic seasons to combine virtual preparation with the return of face-to-face operations. You safely delivered tax returns to over 2 million people with stunning accuracy, a dramatic increase over last year. Official numbers are forthcoming, but I can say in confidence that we have increased production exponentially this year, across the nation!

Nothing is more satisfying than working with our communities and helping them grow. We focus so much on numbers, but it is the personal service we are able to provide and relationships that we develop, that make what we do so special. I look forward to hearing your stories and seeing your well-deserved celebrations.

Thank you again for all your time and effort this filing season.

Frank Nolden

Director, Stakeholder Partnerships,

Education and Communication (SPEC)

Now that tax season has come and gone, our support hours have shifted to off-season hours. TaxSlayer VITA/TCE support is now available Monday – Friday from 8am-5pm ET. Closed on weekends.

On Sunday, April 4th, TaxSlayer VITA/TCE Support will be closed for Easter Sunday. Normal tax season hours will resume on Monday, April 5th.