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United Way seeks volunteer tax preparers in South Hills

By Harry Funk 2 min read
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Maybe in addition to working on your own income-tax returns, you do the same for adult child, your brother-in-law and even his best friend as a favor.

Perhaps you’d like to help others, too.

United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania is recruiting volunteer tax preparers to support the 2017 Free Tax Preparation Campaign. As April 15 approaches, low-income families can receive assistance in the often-confusing process.

“We’re looking for folks who are interested in giving back to the community,” said Kiandra Foster, the campaign’s program director. “The more volunteers we have, the more people we can serve.”

The goal is to have 350 volunteers signed up by year’s end. In 2016, 278 volunteers dedicated more than 13,500 hours to help prepare more than 8,100 tax returns in Allegheny County.

Several sites will be available for the services, including one in the Baldwin area serving the South Hills.

Volunteers don’t have to be certified public accountants.

“Most come in with little or no tax experience,” Foster said. Free training and resources are provided for all volunteers, preparing them to pass an IRS certification test prior to starting at a tax site.

According to the United Way, the program this past year helped deliver $10 million-plus in refunds back to local residents, including more than $5 million in Earned Income Tax credits.

“Everybody’s tax situation is different, but together we reason our way through it and are able to come up with solutions,” said Rick Shaw, a retiree and three-year volunteer tax preparer. “I have come to really appreciate how low-income people in our area live, how they manage to make it work. It is pretty humbling to see that.”

Appointments for free tax preparation can be made beginning Jan. 11 by dialing 211 or visiting www.pa211sw.org, the United Way’s free, 24-hour health and human services helpline.

Partnering with the United Way for the campaign is the Money in Your Pocket Coalition, a group of regional nonprofit and government agencies that provide free tax preparation for low- and moderate-income individuals, families and senior citizens. Beyond tax season, the coalition partners offer year-round assistance for financially struggling adults and families.

For more information about the 2017 Free Tax Preparation Campaign, visit swpafreetaxes.org.

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