Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Certification Practice Test

What action did Max take that violated the Volunteer Standards of Conduct?

1. Prepared a tax return without the taxpayer's consent

2. Took personal information to use for profit

3. Shared taxpayer information with his coworkers

4. Failed to record the taxpayer's name correctly

The correct answer is: Took personal information to use for profit

The action that violated the Volunteer Standards of Conduct involves taking personal information to use for profit. This is a serious breach because the standards emphasize the importance of confidentiality and trust in handling taxpayer information. Volunteers in tax assistance programs are expected to protect the privacy of taxpayers and their financial data, ensuring that it is not used for any personal gain. Engaging in such practices undermines the ethical standards required for operating within the VITA program and can lead to significant consequences, both for the individual and the integrity of the service. Other actions mentioned, while inappropriate, do not involve using taxpayer information for personal profit. Preparing a tax return without consent does violate ethical standards but is primarily about consent. Sharing taxpayer information with coworkers could breach confidentiality but usually pertains to the procedures outlined in the program. Failing to record a taxpayer's name correctly is an administrative error rather than a violation of conduct standards regarding use of information.