Volunteers Needed Countywide For Tax Preparation Program

January 6, 2011

United Way of Escambia County’s Financial Stability Coalition seeks individuals countywide to join the Financial Fitness Volunteer Team as an IRS-certified volunteer tax preparer.

The Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program helps lift people out of poverty by providing free tax preparation services for low-income  individuals. The service saves lower income taxpayers from paying costly fees to have their taxes prepared and volunteers are trained to help each taxpayer file for and receive all tax credits to which they might be eligible. In 2010, volunteer tax preparers working with United Way completed more than 1,200 tax returns returning $1.9 million back to Escambia County residents.

Volunteering with the VITA program is a great way to gain free training and experience in tax preparation. It is ideal for students or residents who desire experience in accounting  work. No experience is necessary to become a volunteer tax preparer. Volunteers are required to participate in a free IRS-led course to obtain certification in basic tax preparation.

Volunteers may select from the following course dates:

  • Option 2: Jan. 10, noon to 4 p.m., and Jan. 11, 12 and 13, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at The Lewis Bear Company, 6120 Enterprise Drive, Pensacola.
  • Option 3: Jan. 10-13, 5 to 9 p.m., at The Lewis Bear Company.

After becoming certified, volunteers are asked to give about four hours per week throughout tax season during available days/hours.

To sign up for a training session or for more information, call 444-7042 or visit www.escambiafinancialstability.com. If you want to volunteer but tax preparation is not your calling, other volunteer positions are available.

If you are in need of free tax preparation services, please call 595-5905 for more information. A complete list of tax preparations sites and times will be posted soon at www.escambiafinancialstability.com

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News