Community service is a very important part of my personal goals. While the demands of managing our firm’s operations, organizing our FPA chapter’s Mid Winter Conference, and starting a family can get quite large, I make the choice to include volunteering in my schedule.
For the past several years I have volunteered with the AARP Tax-Aide program. Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest, free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service.
Click here to go to the AARP website to read about Tax-Aide.
I first started in the program several years ago as a Tax Counselor. I originally volunteered about 8 hours each week during weekday afternoons to meet taxpayers at libraries and senior centers to assist them in the preparation of their tax returns. In those first few years I estimate I filed over 75 returns each season and answered countless tax questions.
Then last year, I was asked to become an Instructor for the program. I was a bit intimidated at first, since my previous “instruction” experience was limited to short presentations and seminars about software programming and financial planning. I never before had a classroom of students to teach over an extended period of time!
Nevertheless, I accepted the offer, realizing that by leveraging my tax knowledge by training 20 students, thousands of tax returns could be filed in just one season. So the 2008 tax return season will be my second as an instructor.
I want to call on FPPad readers: if you are knowledgeable about taxes and would like to become more involved in your community, contact your local Tax-Aide coordinators and ask how you can help. There is a huge need for Tax Counselors. All you need to do is pass a straightforward tax exam, attend a short orientation course on the tax preparation software (we have been using TaxWise), and agree to the terms and conditions of being a volunteer. That’s all it takes.
Tax-Aide Needs You: Click here to complete a Volunteer Application Form!
If you live in Oregon, contact CASH Oregon, a fantastic organization supported through generous contributions from Social Venture Partners Portland and the Oregon Tax Credit Coalition. Here are statistics on the 2007 filing season from CASH Oregon:
Last year, in Oregon more than 240 volunteers provided free tax preparation services that helped 16,172 taxpayers receive $12.4 million in federal tax refunds.
Contact Camille McDaniel, the Volunteer and Outreach Manager for CASH Oregon/AARP Tax-Aide.
Contact: Phone: 503-243-7765
E-mail: Camille@CASHOregon.org
Online: www.cashoregon.org
You will be pleased and encouraged by the profound impact your service will have with members of your community. It is personally rewarding to assist others ranging from struggling college students through senior citizens with the daunting task of completing Form 1040 and all of its associated Schedules. When they leave knowing they received great service and received all the credits and deductions to which they are entitled, I know that I made a difference in someone’s life.
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
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