Community and bilingual volunteers needed to provide free tax help in 2023

The Internal Revenue Service is calling for volunteers to train for the upcoming filing season in order to offer free tax assistance in localities all over the nation. Volunteers who speak both languages are especially required.

Last year, more than 58,000 volunteers worldwide prepared more than 2.2 million federal income tax returns for individuals and families, giving back to their communities.

For more than 50 years, the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programmes have provided free tax preparation to low- to moderate-income individuals who require assistance filing their own tax returns. Senior citizens and individuals with impairments are included in this. Many websites can also help people for whom English is a second language.

Volunteering may be fun, enlightening, and thrilling. Listed below are some motivating factors to think about volunteering:

• No prior knowledge necessary.
• IRS offers free online tax law training.
• Accountants and enrolled agents who work in the tax industry are eligible to receive CPE credits.
• Flexible volunteer hours.
• Various volunteer places
• Various volunteer positions
• Assisting a neighbourhood.

Some volunteer sites now offer volunteers the choice to serve taxpayers digitally instead of in person. As a result, volunteers may assist taxpayers in filing their forms over the phone or online. Before the tax return is sent to the IRS, other volunteers will do a quality review with the individual.

Since novice volunteers may get assistance from seasoned volunteers in preparing tax returns, virtual volunteering is a fantastic alternative. Flexible volunteer hours are available, and free tax preparation services may be found in local churches, libraries, schools, and community organisations.

Link & Learn Taxes provides free training. In general, between November and January, volunteer sites could also provide classroom instruction. The education and training materials address how to create individual income tax forms, both federal and state, and how to submit them online.

On the IRS Tax Volunteers website, you may get more details on the IRS’s volunteer tax preparation programmes. There, potential volunteers can express their interest. They will get an invitation from the IRS to a virtual orientation session where they may learn more about the programme.

(Source Credit: This article was originally published by IRS News on December 8^th, 2022.)