United Way Regional Volunteer Center Seeks Volunteers for VITA (Volunteer Tax Assistance) Program for 2012 Tax Season
Every year the United Way Regional Volunteer Center’s VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) volunteers help community members prepare and file their taxes for free, helping them receive all the deductions and credits for which they are eligible. VITA helped nearly 500 people in Porter, Starke and LaPorte counties prepare and electronically file their taxes, both federal and state, saving them thousands of dollar in preparation costs and rapid refund loan fees.
The free VITA tax preparation service is available to taxpayers whose adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less, the elderly and disabled. Hours in Porter County are offered from late January to mid-April. During the approximate 75-day tax preparation period certified volunteers are asked to contribute what hours they can, from 3 to 6 hours per week.
The United Way Regional Volunteer Center, housed at the United Way of Porter County in Valparaiso, is asking fellow community members to make an impact during the upcoming tax season by becoming an IRS-Certified VITA Volunteer. Interested persons can become a VITA Volunteer Preparer and learn how to help their friends and neighbors take advantage, for example, of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit and Credit for the Elderly. No prior tax preparation experience is necessary.
As a volunteer tax preparer you will: learn valuable resume-building skills, receive free training and certification, have flexibility based on your schedule, and engage in a very rewarding volunteer experience.
All training and materials are free and will be accomplished both on-line and with in-person training at the United Way offices in Valparaiso. The VITA volunteer season will kick off with an open house on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 6 p.m. at the United Way of Porter County 951 Eastport Centre Rd. (across and past Ivy Tech’s Valparaiso Campus), Valparaiso, Indiana 46383.
For more information and to register your interest in the Open House call: George Kuebler (219) 464-3583 x128. Also, additional information and a VITA volunteer application is available at: http://www.nwivolunteer.org/programs/volunteer-income-tax-assistance/.
The VITA program is part of NWI A$$et Building Campaign -- a community based partnership organized in 2003. Its mission is to link financial awareness and education, with tax preparation and asset building for low wage taxpayers in and around Lake and surrounding counties.