Volunteer tax preparers needed for VITA program

  • Published
  • By John Ford
  • 377th Air Base Wing Staff Judge Advocate office
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  One great benefit for military members during the tax season is free income tax assistance! Not only are your tax returns prepared for you, but they are filed electronically without charge as well. This means you get your refund in about two weeks or less. 

The only practical way to make this large-scale program work is to enlist the aid of volunteers using the IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. 

Through the VITA program, volunteers are trained using IRS-provided instructional materials, and tax returns are prepared and filed electronically using IRS-provided software. 

Each year, the key to a successful VITA program is having a large number of volunteers. Active duty, retired military, dependents, civilians and contractor personnel are all welcome to volunteer. 

For those interested in volunteering to help prepare tax returns for the 2009 tax season, you will need to attend training. A training class is scheduled on Dec. 15, 16, and 17 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Distance Learning Center. 

For those of you who want to help, but don't want to prepare tax returns, the Tax Center also needs administrative volunteers. These volunteers will answer phones, schedule clients, file paperwork, and generally provide administrative support for the tax preparers. Administrative volunteers will receive a short half-day training class in January. 

Volunteers need to commit to a minimum of 40 hours of work during the tax season. This converts to about one half-day per week from the last week of January through April 15th. For obvious reasons, each volunteer who is a base employee whether active duty or not, needs to check with his or her supervisor before making a commitment. 

Potential volunteers, including active duty, retired military and civilian employees, should contact Tom Baltes at 298-1256 or e-mail him at tlbaltes@aol.com no later than Dec. 5.