AARP seeks tax volunteers

Eloria Newell James

Nov. 7, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is looking for volunteers to help local residents with their tax returns.

David Allison, district coordinator for AARP, said the agency is still searching for people willing to volunteer to be trained to assist with the AARP Tax Aide program.

Allison said AARP Tax-Aide is a program of the AARP Foundation, offered in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service.

AARP Tax-Aide is the nation's largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service available to taxpayers with low- and moderate- income, with special attention to those age 60 and older.

Allison said anyone interested in serving as a Tax Aide volunteer in Laurel this next year is invited to attend a training session later this month. He said the session will provide a hands-on introduction to Tax Wise, the tax preparation software used by AARP and IRS to prepare tax returns.

Allison said a person does not have to be a member of AARP to serve as a Tax Aide Volunteer.

"We need volunteers who have good people skills, who are comfortable working with computers, and who enjoy helping senior adults and lower to middle income citizens with their taxes," Allison said. "AARP Tax Aide volunteers receive free tax preparation training and are reimbursed on a limited basis for qualified program related expenses."

Allison said volunteers will help provide free tax assistance to taxpayers in the Laurel area on a one-to-one basis starting in February of next year.

Last year, South Mississippi Tax Aide District Tax Aide volunteers served more than 1,000 taxpayers at Tax Aide sites in Hattiesburg, Petal, and Picayune and helped put back over $4 million into the local economy in South Mississippi.

Allison said the AARP is looking for volunteers to work in the local area.

The local site for this year's AARP tax service will be at the Laurel Housing Authority's Office located at 433 Arco Lane.

He said the local coordinator (LC) for the Laurel Tax Aide site is Elma Potero, director of the Retired Senior Volunteers Program (RSVP).

Allison said the agency is looking for volunteers to help staff the site for one morning/afternoon a week beginning the first week of February 2010 through April 15, 2010.

The group's first training session has been set up for Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Housing Authority's Arco Lane property.

Allison said AARP Tax-Aide volunteers are trained in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). He said there are nearly 7,000 AARP Tax-Aide sites nationwide which help over two million taxpayers file their federal, state and local tax returns each year.

AARP Tax-Aide helps low- and moderate-income taxpayers file their personal income tax returns. Volunteers are trained to assist in filing the 1040 tax form and basic schedules.

Officials said taxpayers with complex tax returns are advised to seek paid tax assistance.

However, Allison said, AARP offers free year-round tax assistance on the Internet.

For more information about the volunteer meeting or to become a tax aide volunteer, contact Potero at (601) 425-5100 or Allison at (601) 582-4825 or by e-mail at j.d.allison@comcast.net

Allison said the Internet service allows taxpayers to pose tax questions to online assistants 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from the comfort of their home by visiting our Website at www.aarp.org/taxaide.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0408-39530338