LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Wine Country provides free tax preparation to low- to moderate-income individuals, families and seniors.

Tax returns are prepared by trained and IRS certified volunteers at local community organizations.

Join an exciting coalition of volunteers – they will provide training and link you to their two local sites located in Clearlake and Kelseyville to assist low-income families and seniors in the community.

Schedules are determined to meet your needs, so whether you are available days, evenings or Saturdays, they will work with you to create a convenient working environment.

Last year, more than 60 volunteers helped to prepare over 750 tax returns and returned $1.3 million in total refunds to residents of Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties. This money was returned to the pockets of local residents and put back into the local economy.

The group needs your help to reach even more families in 2012.

This is a great volunteer opportunity to learn new skills and give back to our community.

The following volunteer positions are available:

• Site coordinator: Site coordinators provide coordination, organization and supervision for all aspects of the volunteer tax program sites. This includes developing and maintaining schedules for volunteers, ensuring free services are provided to all taxpayers, acting as liaison between volunteers, the volunteer site and Lake Family Resource Center and quality control. This position requires tax preparation certification to an advanced level. Training is provided free and will take place in January 2012.

• Tax preparer: Tax preparers assist taxpayers with their tax returns during the tax season. Volunteers will complete a free training course to be held in January 2012 and become IRS certified to prepare taxes. Bilingual tax preparers are always in high demand.

• Screener: Screeners are responsible for assisting clients with the intake form and ensuring taxpayers have the correct tax documents and identification. This is a critical role as it is the initial point at which important tax return information is gathered and verified.

• Interpreter: Interpreters aid taxpayers by working alongside the tax clients and tax preparers. Spanish speaking volunteers are always needed. Training is provided by each tax site. Interpreters can be any age, high school or older, and will meet community service hours requirements

• Greeter: Greeters welcome tax filers to the tax site during the tax season, and may also inform taxpayers about other available community resources. Training is provided by each tax site.

Volunteer requirements:

• All tax preparers and screeners must be trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service. Training is available online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and at three training clinics to be offered by Lake Family Resource Center on Jan. 7, 14 and 21, 2012. For new tax prep volunteers, you only need to be certified at the “basic” level. For tax professionals or experienced volunteers, an online training and certification tool is available.

• Site operation hours vary by site but each volunteer is asked to commit to volunteer regularly (between two- to four-hour shifts per week), starting in late January 2012 through April 17, 2012.

• Tax preparation volunteers need to be comfortable working with a computer, but do not need to possess extensive math skills.

Interested in volunteering? Learn more about the program, and how to volunteer, by calling Joy Swetnam, Lake Family Resource Center, at 707-262-1379, Extension 112; 707-272-2660; or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..