Free tax prep program seeks volunteer tax counselors

The AARP Tax-Aide program is seeking volunteers to train as tax counselors to assist at its five Charleston sites. This program provides free personal income tax counseling and electronically filled tax return preparation to low and middle income tax payers, with special attention to those age 60 and older.

Volunteers of all backgrounds and ages are welcome and you do not need to be an AARP member to volunteer nor do you need to be a retiree. Familiarity with the IRS tax program is helpful and the availability of a laptop computer useful.

A four-day IRS qualified training program will be held at the Ashley River Baptist Church on Savannah Highway in late January. Tax counselors receive extensive free tax training and become IRS certified by passing an IRS test. There also will be additional training in computer tax preparation. Training materials are available.

Counselors will help customers one-on-one at tax sites and are expected to be available for at least four hours per week during the Feb. 1-April 15 tax season.

Register with AARP at https://login.aarp.org/online-community/loginform.action to get training materials and join the Tax-Aide team.

Or, call the Charleston District Coordinator, JoAnne Hicks, at 723-6218 or email jhicks57@comcast.net.