Press release from the Volunteer Center @ RSVP:
Volunteers Needed for Tax Season
(December 21, 2010) – The Volunteer Center @ RSVP is seeking volunteers to help file tax returns for local residents who cannot prepare their basic tax returns or cannot afford to pay a preparer. Volunteers are essential in helping low-income residents file for tax credits that can help them pay less in taxes and therefore have more money for essentials such as rent, utilities, food and health care.
Anyone interested in volunteering or learning more should call RSVP @ Volunteer Center at 260.424.3505 or 888.219.6868 or email inforsvp@aol.com.
This year’s tax assistance program is being organized by the Financial Stability Partnership, led by United Way of Allen County and the Volunteer Center @ RSVP. Last tax season, low- and moderate-income Allen County residents claimed more than $2 million in tax credits, thanks to the Earned Income Tax Credit program. A total of 4,977 local residents received free tax assistance provided by 125 IRS trained and certified tax volunteers. More than $2.1 million was returned to these residents as part of the Earned Income Tax Credit program; the program also saved customers more than $170,000 in tax preparation and e-filing fees.
“Without help from volunteers, some low-income residents might never file for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which puts money back in residents’ pockets to help meet their basic needs,” said Jean Joley, director of Volunteer Center @RSVP. “Volunteers do not need any specific accounting or tax knowledge,” added Joley. “All we need are people with a desire to help those who cannot file their own returns.”
Volunteers will be trained with Internal Revenue Service tax materials that will help them file simple federal and Indiana tax returns. In return, volunteers will be asked to donate about four hours a week helping at tax assistance sites from January 29 through April 13, 2011. Computers are used to prepare and electronically transmit tax returns (e-file).
A Military Tax assistance program will again be offered this year. This service will provides free tax assistance and filing to active military, military reserves and families of deployed military.
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