PHOENIX – – The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program in partnership with Catholic Community Services and the IRS are seeking community volunteers across Arizona and especially in the following counties to provide free tax assistance to those who need help filing their taxes:
- Pima County
- Sierra Vista, Cochise County
- Douglas, Cochise County
VITA volunteers serve in a variety of roles. Volunteers are needed to electronically file tax returns, greet taxpayers and help organize their paperwork, set up and keep running computer equipment used to electronically file tax returns, manage the tax site and do quality review.
“VITA needs fellow Arizonans from all across the state and at this time, from Pima County. We are looking for area volunteers who are interested in taking a little time to learn about taxes and then helping others by preparing federal and state income tax returns for free,” said IRS spokesperson, Jin Li. “Volunteers are certified to prepare simple, non-business tax returns for people with low to moderate incomes. People of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to volunteer. There is a role for anyone who is interested, anyone who wants to help and give back to their community.”
Free training is scheduled for the first week of Dec., 2016 and the first and third Saturday’s in Jan., 2017, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or as needed. The instruction and training materials cover how to prepare basic individual income tax returns, both federal and state and how to file them electronically. Volunteer hours are flexible and the free tax help sites are located in near-by community centers, libraries, schools and other similar places.
Statistically during the past tax season, VITA volunteers prepared and electronically filed 88,932 federal returns in Arizona with 8,762 returns filed in Pima County. These returns generated $97,730,844 in refunds statewide and $13,014,469 for Pima County filers. Arizonans received $30,437,588 of Earned Income Tax Credit, of which $4,694,684 was made available to Pima County taxpayers.
For more information on becoming a VITA volunteer, location of the training site or any other questions, contact Rita Camacho, by email at rcamacho@ccs-pio.org or call, (520) 622-2801, extension 7105.