It’s no secret that filing taxes is a confusing business, even for those relatively familiar with the process. The literature surrounding the business of tax returns runs to literally millions of pages, and understanding the dense legal jargon surrounding taxes can end up giving people headaches. Many people end up turning to professional taxpayers to let someone else take care of the mess, but there are millions of underprivileged Americans who don’t have the funds to pay for a private tax service and may not fully understand the self-filing process. own.

This is where Voluntary Income Tax Assistance comes in. This is a program that is run by the IRS but staffed like you who care about helping your fellow human beings solve the difficult issue of paying the government.

Helping

If you are interested in helping with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, you should register with the IRS as soon as possible; they are always looking for people to help others during tax season. During a short training session, you’ll learn how to prepare simple federal tax returns. In exchange for this hands-on training, you will be asked to donate at least four hours a week at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance center from mid-January through April 18.

There is also a program called Tax Advice for Older Adults, which is specifically designed to help the country’s older adult population file their taxes. One of the main advantages of participating in any of these programs (besides the feel-good benefits) is that volunteers will earn a certification at the end of their time helping the program.

No experience is required to participate in the Voluntary Tax Assistance Program or the Senior Tax Counseling Program. All that is required is basic computer skills and a desire to help those who cannot file their taxes themselves but cannot afford to hire a preparer. Taxes are complicated, so participating in one of these programs is one of the best services you can offer your neighbor. The IRS will contact you and then send your information to sponsoring partners in your area so you can get more accurate information about the area in which you intend to volunteer.