AARP Tax-Aides
AARP TAX-AIDES: THE URVC TEAM
VOLUNTEER FOR THE 2019 TAX SEASON
This is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax preparation and assistance service. Join the team to help seniors, low-income, disabled and otherwise disadvantaged taxpayers at metro-area sites for this important service to the community. In addition to Preparers/Counselors, Document Facilitators & Greeters and Technical Supporters are needed. Prior experience with accounting or tax preparation, or membership in AARP, is not required.
AARP supplies training, computers, IRS approved software and reference materials. New Preparers/Counselors receive 33-35 hours of training on tax law and software use over a 5-6 day period the first week of January.Following testing, successful volunteers are certified by the IRS, MN. Dept. of Revenue, and AARP to assist taxpayers with Federal, MN State Income, and Property Tax Refund returns. The certification guarantees preparer’s protection. (These newly acquired skills are portable--Federal certification allows individuals to participate at all AARP Tax-Aide sites throughout the country in the year of certification.)
Facilitators greet clients and assist them in organizing their required documents before meeting with the tax preparers. Facilitators receive a half-day training in January. Qualified program-related expenses will be reimbursed to volunteers.
The working activity begins in February at sites throughout the metro area. You may choose the one in your home area. Volunteers are asked to give a minimum of one day (4-5 hours) each week of the tax season (February 1 – April 15, 2019). Shifts are mornings and afternoons, Monday through Saturday.
Online application is required by December 1 for Preparers, and by January 1 for Facilitators. You will receive a phone interview with an AARP district tax-aide supervisor.
For further application information contact University Retirees Volunteer Center at 612-625-8016 or [email protected]
News
The election of UMRA officers and new board members for 2024–25 will be conducted via an online poll from May 13 to 19, with the results to be announced at our annual meeting on May 21. Look for the ballot in your email inbox on May 13. Diane Young has been nominated to be president-elect.
“I convinced myself I could handle this problem without support groups or doing additional research, but that’s only because I didn’t want to make it any more real than it already was. Denial comes in many forms, and one is to avoid thinking about the problem any more than need be.” —Alice A. Larson
Meet UMRA member Peter Moe. He retired in 2023 after a career that spanned nearly half a century at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and is credited with developing the “Arb” into one of the few in the U.S. with world-class fruit and landscape breeding programs.
The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) has welcomed two new members with valuable skills and experience to the URVC Leadership Council: Lynn Slifer and Jeanne Jacobson.
The University plans to remove retirees from the @umn.edu internet identity domain on December 7. UMRA has advocated for ensuring continued access to this identity (including email, Google Workspace, and associated services), citing University retirees’ enduring contributions to and engagement with the University. Thus far, our efforts have not prompted any change of plans.
Leading the online Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays has been a labor of love for Kris Bettin. Alas, a change in family needs has necessitated her retirement. So, JOIE is seeking a new leader to join a savvy editorial committee of five and bring fresh ideas for continued development of the UMRA-sponsored journal.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to explore your photographic interests, hone your photographic skills, and hear what other retirees are up to, the UMRA Photo Club is a great place to be. We have fun! And whatever your skill level, there is room for everybody.
Soon you will receive an email or letter inviting you to renew your UMRA membership for the 2024–25 year. Please renew before you get busy with your summer activities. Your support helps to make our programs and many other member benefits possible!
This will be a new regular column where you can find organizational tasks that need your help! We are currently looking for help researching a new UMRA Membership Database and URVC volunteer database, and a co-producer for UMRA's Zoom webinars. See more details: