Be a Tax Clinic Volunteer! WHEEEE

The best volunteer gig I have ever had was at a low income tax clinic in DC.  The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program trains volunteers to staff low income tax clinics nationwide.  Laura and I did this in DC through Capital Area Asset Builders and their DC EITC program.  Laura did several hours of IRS training to learn how to prepare taxes.  I promoted DC Saves, a savings account program, and did interpreting.  I started to get interested in financial education and all of these other issues when I was volunteering there.  We went once a week to the site (ours was in Adams Morgan) for a four hour shift leading up to TAX DAY.

Laura is already signed up to do it again this year in Philly.  It's a really rewarding gig because you're helping low income people get large sums of money.  Plus, learning how to do taxes will be pertinent to your life every year, and friends will bake you cookies in exchange for tax help.

If you are interested in being a VITA volunteer, "send an e-mail to the IRS at wi.taxprep.volunteer@irs.gov indicating the city and state where you want to become a volunteer. You’ll receive an acknowledgement e-mail from the IRS.  Your information along with your email address will be forwarded to sponsoring partners in your area for further contact." (taken from this IRS page)

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