LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – No one wants to think about tax season, especially before the winter holiday season has ended.

But it’s almost here and you have an exciting potential volunteer opportunity to assist those Lake County families most in need to file their 2012 taxes.

If you would like to explore this opportunity, and learn about the many volunteer opportunities available, plan to attend one of two introductory sessions.  

You will receive information that will help you decide if you would like to become an IRS certified volunteer tax preparer, or one of the other available positions.

The one-hour introductory sessions will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, and at 6 p.m. pm Wednesday, Dec. 19. Lake Family Resource Center is sponsoring the sessions at its Lakeport office, 896 Lakeport Blvd.

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.

If you decide to join the wonderful coalition of volunteers they will provide training and link you to their two local sites located in Clearlake and Lakeport to assist low-income families and seniors in your community.   

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

Last year, volunteers helped to prepare over 300 tax returns for Lake County residents and returned $300,000 in total refunds. This money was returned to the pockets of local residents and put back into the local economy.  

They need your help to reach even more families in 2013. 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, ensure free services are provided to all taxpayers, act 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 2013.
• 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 2013 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.

All tax preparers and screeners must be trained and certified by the IRS. Training is available online 24/7 or at three training clinics to be offered by Lake Family Resource Center on Jan. 5, 12 and 26, 2013.  

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 shift per week), Jan. 28, 2013, through April 15, 2013.

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, or 707-272-2660 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .