First 5 participates every year in the Bay Area’s Earn It! Keep It! Save It! campaign to provide free tax preparation services for low- to moderate-income individuals and families.
Last year alone, 3,600 volunteers contributed their time and helped prepare over 60,000 tax returns throughout the Bay Area. These volunteers helped filers claim a total of $68 million in tax returns. In Contra Costa County last year, volunteers prepared taxes for more than 3,000 local residents, helping filers claim a total of $4.5 million in refunds.
The United Way, the Campaign’s organizers, are hoping to serve even more filers this year. But they need your help. Volunteers are needed to serve as greeters, screeners, interpreters, outreach workers, and tax preparers. Bilingual tax preparers are especially needed.
Tax preparers receive training and are certified by the IRS. Training starts in January so sign up today!
Chris Ibarra, a second-year volunteer tax preparer in San Pablo, says a desire to help others is really all that you need to volunteer for the program. “The most important quality I look for when recruiting volunteers is someone who enjoys helping others. You don’t have to be an accountant to do this,” he said.
Visit the EKS website to learn more or to volunteer.