Community Corner
Tax Preparer Training for VITA Volunteers
The Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness is seeking volunteers during the upcoming tax season, to staff Free Tax Preparation Sites throughout Mercer County. To be a volunteer tax preparer, you must participate in a training program. There are several training options: Friday, November 30, 9:30am-3pm and Saturday, December 1 – 9:30am-3pm OR Friday December 7 - 9:30am-3pm and Saturday December 8 – 9:30am-3pm OR Saturday, December 1 – 9:30am-3pm and Saturday December 8 – 9:30am-3pm.
The Training is located at The New United Way Conference Room, Crossroad Corporate Center, 3150 Brunswick Pike, Suite 230Lawrenceville, N.J. (Go to the Motor Vehicle offices off Route 1 and turn left at the stop sign). You must register! You will receive practical knowledge in tax law, and TaxWise software use, as well as hands-on practice completing tax returns. You will be required to pass a test on IRS Link & Learn to be certified to volunteer. We provide plenty support and assistance. Come out and find out how to make a difference!
Please register by Wednesday, November 29 with Michelle at mewilliams@merceralliance or calling 609-844-1008.
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By joining the Mercer CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign, and volunteering 4 to 8 hours per week, you will be helping low-income families and individuals file for refunds. This year with the economic crisis, everyone needs their tax return completed free of charge all of their credit dollars.
Last year, we helped over 1,160 Mercer families and individuals with free tax preparation. Thousands more learned about the EITC and Free Tax Sites from Mercer Alliance and the Greater Trenton EITC and Asset Building’s outreach and advertising campaign. Last tax year, receiving a 2011TY EITC refund, reached over $5,700 per household, is a vital way for low-wage earners to reduce the great gap between their income and housing costs. Last year the total of all EITC filers brought over 45 million EITC dollars into Mercer County.
