Are you looking for a way to make a difference and help people in your community? One thing you can do is prepare taxes free of charge for those who need assistance. If you become a volunteer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs, you will receive training to provide free tax help for low-to-moderate income families who need assistance preparing their tax returns. More than 88,000 people chose to make a difference during the 2011 filing season and prepared more than 3 million returns at thousands of tax sites nationwide.

How does this volunteer program work? If you volunteer, you’ll be assigned to work with a sponsoring organization, first to receive training and then to begin volunteering at a location in your community. Training is offered both online and in the classroom. VITA and TCE sites are generally open nights and weekends and the hours are flexible. Most likely, there is a volunteer site close to you.

For more information, send an e-mail to the IRS with your contact information and indicate the city and state where you want to volunteer. You will receive an acknowledgement e-mail from the IRS. Your information along with your email address will be forwarded to the sponsoring partners in your area for further contact.

If you want to volunteer, submit your inquiry to become a VITA or TCE volunteer. It’s a great way to give back to your community.

Daniel Stoica Accounting Professional