County Seeks Volunteers for Income Tax Preparations

The following was submitted for publication on behalf of Community Action Partnership of Riverside County:

Community Action Partnership of Riverside County (CAP Riverside) is now accepting applications for volunteers to become Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax preparation trained and certified at no cost, in order to support the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program this upcoming tax season.

There are no prior requirements needed. IRS certified volunteers prepare basic income tax returns for qualified taxpayers in local communities throughout Riverside County. They also help to secure as well as increase awareness of special tax credits such as Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits as well as Credit for the Elderly or Disabled. IRS volunteer tax preparers will also provide free tax preparation services to individuals or families receiving Premium Tax Credits.

Once certified, volunteers become IRS tax preparers that prepare income tax returns at no cost for taxpayers who make $58,000 or less.

CAP Riverside volunteer tax preparers help put extra money into the pockets of local qualifying taxpayers. Last year, CAP Riverside volunteer tax preparers prepared 3,405 returns, saving taxpayers over $1 million in preparation fees and bringing in over $2 million in Earned Income Tax Credits and $4 million into the local economy. The average refund for families in Riverside County was $1,702.

Training begins in mid-November and tax preparation starts in January, concluding on April 15, 2015.

Tax preparers are assigned to various sites throughout Riverside County. Volunteers are needed from all parts of the county. CAP Riverside tax preparers commit to serving a minimum of 25 hours throughout the tax season. Volunteers who complete the program receive a letter of recommendation, certificates, as well as the opportunity to earn the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

The County of Riverside requires all volunteers to be live-scanned. For more information or to apply as a VITA volunteer, apply online at www.capriverside.org or call 800-511-1110 or 951-955-4900.

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