AARP Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest, free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance, is seeking volunteers to help middle- and low-income taxpayers (with special attention to persons age 60 and older) prepare their federal and state income tax returns. There is an immediate need for volunteers in Calaveras County, especially in the San Andreas and Valley Springs area.
Volunteers should be comfortable working with numbers, and have some experience preparing an income tax return. They should also have basic computer skills in order to prepare returns for electronic filing. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome.
To become a certified Tax-Aide Counselor, volunteers should attend the season kick-off meeting at the Calaveras Senior Center in San Andreas at 10 a.m. Dec. 13 and complete about 30 hours of free training in early January in basic tax form preparation and use of the IRS-approved software. Volunteers must also pass an IRS certification test. Certified Tax-Aide Counselors are asked to commit a minimum of one day a week (generally 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) during the upcoming tax season starting on February 1st and ending April 15. Volunteers are reimbursed on a limited basis for qualified program-related expenses.
Calaveras County residents interested in joining the Tax-Aide team should call Sharon Neckel at 754-0930 or Lee Vahle at 795-8208.
Last season, Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 600 taxpayers in Calaveras County prepare and file their tax returns, all filed free electronically. Membership in AARP is not a requirement for volunteers nor for persons who use the service.
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