The Southwest Missouri Office on Aging (SWMOA) is seeking volunteers for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program.
TCE is a community-based partnership through a grant received from IRS that provides free tax return preparation assistance to low-to-moderate income taxpayers, seniors, people with disabilities and non-English speakers.
Things to know about becoming a TCE volunteer:
•No previous experience is required. Volunteers receive specialized training from certified TCE volunteers and can serve as greeters, reviewers, Missouri property tax credit returns or tax preparers.
•Volunteers receive free tax law training, e-file training and all the materials needed to prepare basic individual income tax returns. All returns are completed using IRS approved software.
•Hours are flexible. Volunteers are asked to serve an average of five or more hours per week from mid-January through the April 15 tax deadline.
•Volunteer sites are generally located at senior citizens centers or community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools and other convenient locations.
•All our TCE sites offer free electronic filing of tax returns.
“This program is so important to so many seniors and anyone can volunteer,” said SWMOA special projects director Becky Pike. “It can be an exciting, educational and enjoyable experience. Think about becoming a volunteer and see what a difference it makes in your life as well as others.”
For more information, call the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging at 800-497-0822, email Pike at becky@swmoa.com or call the Houston Senior Center at 417-967-4119.