AARP seeks volunteers for income tax assistance program
AARP is looking for volunteers throughout Berkshire County with an interest in helping others. Each year, from February 1 through April 15, the AARP Tax-Aide program offers free tax counseling and preparation to moderate and low-income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and older. Individuals do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service. Volunteer counselors are trained in basic federal and Massachusetts individual income tax preparation, with an emphasis on issues affecting older adults.
“The AARP Tax-Aide program is a wonderful resource for the American taxpayer,” said Pim Goodbody, Berkshire County District Coordinator. “AARP Tax-Aide volunteers get a great deal of satisfaction from helping people deal with the challenges of filling out their tax forms.”
Nationwide, more than 32,000 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers, trained in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities, helped more than two million people file their personal income tax forms. The program was offered during the recent tax season at seven Senior Centers within Berkshire County: Dalton, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, North Adams, Pittsfield and Williamstown.
Volunteer Counselors must commit to attending the annual 4-5 daytime training sessions in early January and provide a minimum of three hours of counseling per week during Tax-Aide’s 10-week tax season from February 1 – April 15, 2008.
For more information about becoming a Tax-Aide volunteer, contact Pim Goodbody at pgoodbody@alumni.williams.edu or 458-1840 and visit the program’s website: www.aarp.org/taxaide.
