Tax preparation volunteers needed

The Gateway EITC Community Coalition hopes to pair  volunteers with low income and elderly residents for tax assistance from late January through April 15, 2013 at various locations in the region. Trainings take place during January 2013 at various times and locations throughout St. Louis City, County and Illinois. Volunteers must attend one or more certification trainings in order to greet, interview or prepare taxes. A tax assistance experience is not required to help. You must register for the trainings in advance. To find out more, contact GECC at 314-539-4062 or email info@gatewayeitc.org.

The purpose of the Coalition is to offer free Earned Income Tax Credit preparation and education to low income residents in the metropolitan area to help raise their living standards.

Last year, 225 Gateway EITC Community Coalition volunteers prepared nearly 6,900 federal tax returns in the area, resulting in more than $8.2 million in refunds. Volunteers saved families more than $1.7 million in paid tax preparation fees.

Greeters will ensure that each taxpayer has all the necessary information with him or her to have their return completed on site. This volunteer position is asking for at least a 16 hour volunteer time commitment that includes one four-hour training and at least two six-hour Saturdays January – April.

Intake volunteers with great people skills will assist the families in completing the interview sheet and transfer the paperwork to a tax preparer. This volunteer position is asking for at least a 24 hour volunteer time commitment that includes 12-hours of preparation training and at least two six-hour Saturdays January – April.

Tax preparers will prepare federal and state tax returns electronically. People with some tax knowledge and computer skills are helpful. This volunteer position is asking for at least a 24 hour volunteer time commitment that includes 12-hours of preparation training and at least two six-hour Saturdays January – April.