The AARP Tax-Aide program, which is coordinated by The York $ in Your Pocket Coalition and the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program provides free tax preparation for low-income families (income less than $42,000) and senior citizens age 60 and over. In 2008, over 2000 federal tax returns were prepared and $1.7 million in federal refunds.
The success of these programs is a direct result of the dedication of the volunteers. All volunteers are required to take tax training and pass an IRS certification exam each year. Since 2007 tax season, the United Way of York County has provided leadership for the VITA program. AARP Tax-Aide members provide the tax training for the coalition. York College, with support from their SIFE organization, has provided a majority of the VITA volunteers as well as the training facilities for the coalition. Other volunteers are community members, including some students from Penn State-York and HACC.
There has been a significant increase in the number of taxpayers requesting appointments to have their taxes prepared this year and most of the AARP Tax-Aide sites are completely booked through April 15. Each year the number of taxpayers in York County requesting the free tax preparation services increases.
We are in need of additional volunteers to answer phones, schedule appointments, greet taxpayers when they arrive at the sites, provide assistance to non-English speaking taxpayers and prepare tax returns. To find out how you can help with the program contact the Financial Stability Partnership at Lutheran Social Services: (717) 854-3971, ext. 453. We will begin training for the 2010 tax season in November.
Information provided by Paul Brubaker, an instructor/volunteer for the AARP Tax-Aide group since 2002, and an instructor for the VITA program since 2006.
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