Volunteers needed to help low-income Loudoun County Residents file Taxes

The Loudoun County Department of Family Services, through its Community Action Advisory Board, and the Loudoun County Department of Parks,Recreation & Community Services, through its Area Agency on Aging, are helping low-income residents file their taxes free of charge and in many cases obtain a tax refund.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, locally known as the Northern Virginia CASH Campaign (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope), relies on volunteers to deliver free tax preparation services at no cost to working families and individuals in the community who earned less than $42,000 in2008.

"This is a priority initiative of the Loudoun Community Action Advisory Board as it is with Community Action Programs and Social Service agencies throughout the Commonwealth. It is also very much a part of the campaign to cut poverty in half in Loudoun County, an initiative recently endorsed by the Board of Supervisors," said Susan Jane Stack, Executive Director of the Loudoun Community Action Program (CAP).

"This year we need volunteers to help people find out about the Earned Income Tax Credit and other assistance that may be available to help the mafford basic necessities such as rent or food for their children," said Karen Velez, Volunteer Income Tax Coordinator for Family Services and Loudoun CAP.

Volunteers contribute a few hours weekly during the tax season to help prepare tax returns, or serve as greeters, screeners, site coordinators and interpreters. Free tax certification training is provided by the Internal Revenue Service to all volunteers.

The Northern Virginia CASH Campaign is leading the Northern Virginia effort to mobilize a coalition of public agencies, businesses, libraries, faith and community-based groups to operate the tax assistance program at 16 sites throughout Northern Virginia, beginning January 31, 2009.

To register as a volunteer, or for more information about the Northern Virginia CASH Campaign, contact Karen Velez, 703-771-5718 or karen.velez@loudoun.gov; or Debra Bressler, 703-777-0505 or debra.bressler@loudoun.gov.