VERO BEACH — The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) offers free tax services to low and moderate income workers (generally, $49,000 and below) who need help preparing their tax returns. Countless low-income families could be receiving Earned Income Tax Credits and Child Tax Credits annually if they had assistance filing their returns. This is where volunteers come in, after training and certification, by providing free preparation and electronic filing at various VITA sites in the community.
Volunteer training sessions run from December through January and certification will be attained on-line. Certified volunteers will be required to commit to two half-days or one full-day per week from the end of January through April 15, 2011.
United Way IRC and the Dasie Hope Center are sponsoring the training locally, and VITA sites in Indian River County will include United Way, the Economic Opportunities Council and Fellsmere City Hall, among others.
If you enjoy a challenge and would like to help struggling families claim benefits that will help them through the economic crisis and in many cases prevent homelessness, please join the VITA team. A background in accounting is preferred but not required, and retirees are encouraged to apply.
To request more information or to sign up, call Eve Ballance at United Way of Indian River County, 772-567-8900 ext. 20, or email eve.ballance@unitedwayirc.org