IRS Is Looking For Volunteer Tax Preparers

HARTFORD — The Internal Revenue Service needs volunteers to help taxpayers prepare their 2001 federal income tax returns.

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which assists taxpayers who file basic tax returns and cannot afford to pay professional preparers, trains the volunteers and provides back-up assistance.

“VITA volunteers provide free tax help in hundreds of neighborhood libraries and community centers throughout Connecticut,” Jodonna Powell, IRS territory manager, said.

Volunteers should have tax preparation experience or an aptitude for numbers and should enjoy working with people. A free three-to-five-day training course will be held in January at various locations throughout Connecticut. Those who complete the course and pass an open-book test are asked to volunteer at least four hours each week from February until April.

For information, call the IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communications office at 860-756-4655 or write to: IRS, SPEC, 135 High Street, Stop 116, Hartford, CT 06103-1185.