The United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra (UWNNS) seeks volunteers to assist in preparing tax returns in 2015 at various Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites throughout northern Nevada.
VITA sites provide free tax preparation to individuals and families earning less than $53,000 per year using trained, certified, volunteer tax preparers.
VITA sites provide a service to lower-income taxpayers by offering free income tax return preparation during the tax filing season. VITA volunteers help members of the community receive the best refund possible.
Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome and will receive free tax training in cooperation with community partners and the IRS. Good computer skills are recommended to assist in preparing and transmitting tax returns through the IRS E-file program.
Last year during the tax season, nearly 200 volunteer tax preparers helped prepare more than 4,074 tax returns, bringing more than $5.4 million in federal tax refunds back to the local communities throughout the northern Nevada region. Additionally, the volunteers helped taxpayers save more than $970,000 in tax preparation costs.
There are three ways to get involved as a VITA volunteer:
-Be trained as a tax preparer and help to prepare tax returns.
-Become a site coordinator, prepare tax returns, as well as supervise and manage all aspects of the VITA site.
-Be a greeter at a VITA site, greeting taxpayers while providing initial forms and answering general questions.
“When volunteers choose to be a VITA site volunteer, it shows their commitment to the local community and its residents,” said Karen Barsell, chief executive officer and president of UWNNS.
For more information on how to volunteer or to sign up, please contact Daniel Dachtler, AmeriCorps financial educator, at 775-325-8905 or by email at [email protected].
UWNNS has successfully served northern Nevada for more than 70 years. UWNNS has completed an historic direction-setting effort to identify and concentrate on the most important social issues affecting individuals and families in the region. UWNNS has adopted the critical issue of “children reading at grade level” as its focus area moving forward. This adopted issue will allow UWNNS to better prioritize resources to address key issues in order to make the greatest impact and create lasting change. In 2014, UWNNS will reach the goal of $100 Million raised since we started in 1942. To celebrate this goal, we have established the $100 Million Club and invite you to join us. For more information, call 775-322-8668 or visit www.uwnns.org.
