Volunteers help prepare tax returns

By John Slusher

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This is my 30th year as a volunteer tax preparer in the Cedar Rapids/Marion area.

I volunteer through an AARP-sponsored program and prepare tax returns electronically for both federal and Iowa tax returns. I have prepared 300 or more returns for the past several years while preparing more than 400 returns one year.

My service is to senior citizens and low-income families. HACAP makes the appointments for me and clients call United Way 2-1-1 for an appointment. I work two days a week at the Hiawatha library and two days a week at the Marion Methodist Church office in Marion. Each year I am required to pass a test for preparing taxes. Years of service does not exempt me from the test. I have taken and passed the test 30 times.

The clients will come to the appointment with this year's tax data and with a copy of last year's tax return. I request last year's return to get some data needed for the current year's return and to explain to the client differences in the two years' returns. I will prepare their tax return at their appointed time with them in attendance and I explain the return to them when completed.

I will print them a copy of their return and later that day transmit their return electronically.

Why do I volunteer so much, you might ask? I want to help others using a skill that I have. Volunteering keeps me active and makes me feel good knowing that I can help others.

You can always look for volunteer opportunities at UnitedWayofEast

CentralIowa.org/Volun

teerNow. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can also download United Way's volunteer app at UnitedWayofEastCentral

Iowa.org/app.

This is the volunteer effort that I make to help people in need. This effort helped people get their refunds faster and at no cost to them. You want to help them get their return filed. It's my pleasure to help other Eastern Iowans this way!

John Slusher of Marion is a United Way volunteer and an accountant who worked at Rockwell International. Comments: SLUSHERJON@aol.com