The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Seeks Volunteers

The Loudoun County Department of Family Services, through its Community Action Advisory Board, and the Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services, through its Area Agency on Aging, are helping low-income residents file their taxes free of charge and in many cases obtain a tax refund.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, locally known as the Northern Virginia CASH Campaign (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope), relies on volunteers to deliver free tax preparation services at no cost to working families and individuals in the community who earned less than $48,000 in 2009.

“This is a priority initiative of the Loudoun Community Action Advisory Board and the Department of Family Services, as it is with Community Action Programs and Social Service agencies throughout the Commonwealth,” said William Druhan, Chair of the Loudoun Community Action Program. “It is a part of the campaign to cut poverty in half in Loudoun County, an initiative that has been endorsed by the Board of Supervisors.”

“This year we need volunteers to help people find out about the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credit changes available for the 2009 tax year. These tax credits may be available to eligible individuals and families to help them afford basic necessities such as rent or food for their families and children,” said Karen Velez, Volunteer Income Tax Coordinator for the Department of Family Services and the Loudoun Community Action Program.

Volunteers contribute a few hours weekly during the tax season to help prepare tax returns, or serve as greeters, screeners, site coordinators and interpreters. Free tax certification training is provided by the Internal Revenue Service to all volunteers in January. Successful tax preparers are computer savvy, use a 10-key number pad, and spend a minimum of 30 hours to prepare for the IRS examinations.

The Northern Virginia CASH Campaign is leading the regional effort to mobilize a coalition of public agencies, businesses, libraries, faith and community-based groups to operate the tax assistance program at 16 sites throughout Northern Virginia, beginning January 31, 2010.

To register as a volunteer, or for more information about the Northern Virginia CASH Campaign, contact Karen Velez, 703-771-5718 or karen.velez@loudoun.gov, for evening opportunities or Debra Bressler, 703-777-0505 or debra.bressler@loudoun.gov, for weekday opportunities. More information Additional information about the tax program is available at www.nvacash.org.

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