Are you looking to build up your resume, to start a new career in the tax preparation field, or just looking to volunteer for a good cause – consider becoming a volunteer tax preparer. The Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County and its partners, the United Ways of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, Cal Poly, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), and the IRS, formed the new Central Coast Community Tax Coalition, and are seeking volunteers to become IRS certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax preparers for the upcoming season – from January to April 2012. The Coalition works together to provide low-to-moderate income individuals and families with no cost, income tax preparation services at offices located throughout the Central Coast from Paso Robles to Carpentaria. VITA and AARP services ensure that all families and individuals, including seniors, receive the special tax credits and deductions they may qualify for. On average each hour volunteered brings in over $1,400 in refunds back to our community.

No tax preparation experience is necessary! People just like you - high school or college students, homemakers, seniors, business men and women, or members of community organizations, can learn how to prepare taxes and gain valuable hands-on experience. For those interested in pursuing a new career path in the tax field, this is a great opportunity to build a solid foundation in tax law and gain valuable experience in tax preparation. During these difficult economic times, this opportunity can give volunteers a boost that will help with finding employment or obtain a better paying job.

Volunteers are needed throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County. Interested volunteers will receive training and materials in order to become a certified tax preparer for the program – classes available in San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara. All tax sites through the Coalition are supported by volunteers – without volunteers we cannot make this valuable community program operate. In addition to needing volunteer tax preparers, volunteers are also needed to help serve as site greeters, intake specialists, math checkers, translators, and/or financial resource specialists.

Serving at a Community Tax Site is a very rewarding opportunity and offers a unique way to strengthen your community. Many volunteers in our tax program return year after year because they find it to be a rewarding experience. Here is what one of our volunteers told us after last tax season: “VITA is a great program that gave me the chance to help my community and meet great people. It has allowed me to expand my knowledge. I am glad I joined this program and I will be back next year. I love VITA!”

By joining the VITA team you will not only benefit through the experience but so will the families and the communities that we serve. Help create a WIN, WIN, WIN situation! For more information on this special volunteer opportunity or regarding the program, please contact Jessica Edwards, at the Community Action Partnership at (805)549-7684, or by e-mail, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County is a non-profit agency that focuses on helping people and changing lives through serving nearly 40,000 persons across Central and Southern California. We are committed to eliminate poverty by empowering individuals and families to achieve economic self-sufficiency and self-determination through a comprehensive array of community-based programs.