Make A Difference: Volunteer for the IRS

To the Editor:

The spirit of volunteerism will be alive and well on Oct. 27, Make A Difference Day. Americans nationwide will work together to make their communities better places to live.

Civic-minded folks seeking a significant way to make a difference in and around Lorain County should consider volunteering for the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and/or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs.

VITA and TCE volunteers help low income, senior and military taxpayers to prepare their federal taxes, free of charge. Training is provided.

Last year, about 10 volunteers prepared almost 1,200 returns for lower-income and senior taxpayers in Lorain County, resulting in area taxpayers receiving more than $1.5 million in refunds. Of that, about $530,000 was due to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable tax credit available to taxpayers with lower-end wage incomes.

The IRS is seeking additional partner organizations to host new sites and VITA/TCE volunteers to help prepare returns in Lorain County and neighboring counties during the 2013 filing season.

Want to make tax time less taxing for others? Search “Volunteer” at www.IRS.gov, then email TaxVolunteer@IRS.gov. Volunteer for VITA and/or TCE, and help make a positive difference in others’ lives.

Jennifer Jenkins

IRS Field Media Relations

Columbus, OH  43215