Be a genuinely decent human being: Volunteer as a Tax-Aide
October 2, 2019
By: Mark Harvey
Email: harvemb@dshs.wa.gov
Most of us have secret wishes for ourselves (I hesitate to use the word “fantasies,” as those might be edging into some edgy territory for a family newspaper).
Some of the more common ones are fabulous wealth and/or permanent good health, but they might include “fame” (or, at least, a solid dose of notoriety) or a world-class talent or skill, or even soar to immortality.
Or winning the Betty Crocker bake-off or magically becoming the person we pretended to be in high school or…
You get it; but one of the MOST common wishes – One that applies to almost ALL of us, but is almost NEVER said out loud – Is to be able to look into the mirror and say to ourselves, “I really am a genuinely decent human being.”
And know that it’s true. Here’s your chance.
You could become an IRS-certified AARP TAX-AIDE volunteer.
Wait a minute! Yes, you could!
No, you don’t have to be a member of AARP (this is the AARP Foundation, so you don’t have to join or align yourself) or a retired CPA. What you do have to be is a reasonably intelligent person who is reasonably good with numbers and people, and willing to work hard at something that you won’t get paid for.
Here’s what you’ll be in for: New volunteer orientation classes, usually held in the first week of December; then, you can marginalize the holidays while you study your little heart out, immersed in IRS-provided study materials and tax preparation software – HEY! You’re learning to prepare tax returns, remember? Did you expect this to be easy?
You’ll be mentored through this process by seasoned TAX AIDE volunteers, so don’t panic.
There will be more required classes, usually around the first week of January. Ultimately, you’re going to have to become IRS-certified, which means passing the IRS tests at the “Advanced” level, and signing the IRS “Standards of Conduct.” HEY! You’re learning to prepare tax returns, remember? Did you expect this to be easy?
Then, you’ll be expected to work at helping low-to-middle income tax payers through their electronic filing for at least four hours per week, during tax season, but the fact is that most TAX AIDE volunteers do more than that, because of what they get back from the folks who they help.
If you haven’t completely freaked-out yet, and gone looking for your high school yearbook, GOOD FOR YOU! Here’s what you do: Go to www.aarp.org/taxaide to complete an online application, or call 1.888.687.2277. Once you’ve done that, a local TAX AIDE coordinator will be in touch.
And when should you do this? Now! All new volunteers have to be signed-up by Thanksgiving, in order to get all the materials by the time they’re going to be needed, so set aside the Publisher’s Clearinghouse entries and just DO IT!
Look, this is about helping low-to-moderate income households get their taxes done, true! – But it’s also about often helping them to get the tax credits and deductions that they deserve, so life can be a little better than it was before you helped.
Now, seriously, consider this: On April 16, 2020, you could stand in front of your mirror and say to yourself, “I really am a genuinely decent human being.”
Yeah, you are.
Mark Harvey is the director of Information and Assistance for Olympic Area Agency on Aging. He can be reached at harvemb@dshs.wa.gov or 532-0520 in Aberdeen, (360) 942-2177 in Raymond or (360) 642-3634. FACEBOOK: Olympic Area Agency on Aging-Information & Assistance.