Northwest Wisconsin Community Services Agency needs volunteers to run its new tax preparation assistant program.
The agency plans to provide free tax preparation services for low- to moderate-income people in Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron and Price counties. People eligible to take advantage of the program would have a household income of $49,000 or less.
"We're looking for volunteers because without them not much is going to be able to get going," said Jo Ryker of NWCSA.
Among the positions that need to be filled are site coordinators, greeters to assist clients in getting to the right person, clerical assistants, interviewers, tax preparers and reviewers.
Site coordinators are the only ones that need to have previous tax preparation or software training, Ryker said. She said none of the other position require advance training; it will be provided with the help of the Internal Revenue Service.
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Volunteers will have an option to take a training course that will be arranged by Northwest Wisconsin Community Services Agency or they can take advantage of online training provided by the IRS for volunteer preparers online.
The type of activities volunteers may become involved with are: greeting clients and assisting them in getting to the right person, providing clerical assistance, preparing and reviewing tax returns, assisting clients obtain benefits through the State of Wisconsin Web site ACCESS, and interviewing clients to ensure they have the proper forms and documents needed to complete their returns.
People who are preparing the tax forms and reviewing them must go through the eight-hour training session, but the other positions can take the training if they like but won't be required to, Ryker said.
Volunteers may be asked to provide four hours a week through tax season; however, if a person cannot offer that much time arrangements can be made with the program organizer to accept what time people have to offer.
"We want people who are going to make people feel comfortable," Ryker said.
For more information regarding volunteer opportunities and upcoming trainings, contact Ryker at Northwest Wisconsin Community Services Agency, (715) 392-5127 or jryker@northwest-csa.org .
