Volunteer to Give Federal Income Tax Return Help to Disadvantaged Taxpayers

You can help low-income people in your local community get their full refund when they file taxes for 2011. Find out how!

As the season to file 2011 taxes inches ever closer, most people are preoccupied with getting their own financial house in order. But even in the tax world, Thanksgiving can be a great time of year to give back.

For instance, did you know that although it is often portrayed as the big bad wolf of personal finance the IRS in fact gets millions of disadvantaged people free income tax help every year through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs?

IRS volunteers assist low-to-moderate income taxpayers, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and non-English speakers who all make less than $50,000 and often suffer significant financial hardship.

As the vast majority of these disadvantaged citizens are due a refund, helping them file can get them money that could have a significant positive impact on their lives. In short, it’s a worthy cause.

The IRS website offers several stories of people whose lives have been changed by their services:

A single mother of a two-year-old worked full time as a hairdresser but, due to last winter’s severe ice storms, was unable to work for several weeks. She heard about the VITA program and went to a volunteer site. As it turned out, she was eligible for a very large refund amount. When she saw how much she would be receiving, she tearfully thanked the volunteers for their help.

A military veteran picked up many of his friends who were disabled and brought them to a Veterans Administration hospital which was hosting a VITA site. When the volunteers learned the vets needed assistance in getting out of the car, they immediately moved the site to the curb. The curbside return preparation for disabled veterans was a huge hit!

But in order to help these people the IRS and its partner organizations rely on volunteers. This is where we all can be of help.

Last year, 88,000 people volunteered, preparing more than three million returns at thousands of sites across the country.

Anyone is welcome to volunteer as a return preparer, site coordinator, or greeter. Prior knowledge of taxes isn’t necessary. From November to January volunteers receive free tax training and learn how to prepare and e-file basic individual income tax returns.

Volunteering can be a great way to help your community and become a tax whiz all at the same time.

If you’re interested, submit your contact information via Form 14310, VITA/TCE Volunteer Sign Up or send an email to taxvolunteer@irs.gov. The IRS will put you in contact with a local partner organization and you can get to work giving back to your community.