by Larry C. Klos (Author)
'VITA: Adventures of a Volunteer Tax Preparer' combines a factual description of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program with insights and amusing anecdotes drawn from the author's observations as a tax preparer for low to moderate income individuals, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and those with limited English skills. Through VITA, IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. The author's VITA experiences included daily surprises, including the marriage of one couple in the tax office. Every day in the tax office was different. Although VITA clients share many common issues, there were also great variations in the life situations and problems experienced by clients and the impacts of federal tax policies on their lives and families. The book summarizes common taxpayer and tax system problems and suggests possible solutions to achieve the financial and sociological goals of our country. Although the VITA program provides great training materials for volunteers, the author was unable to find information about what his experience would be like as a tax preparer. He decided to pen this memoir in hopes that it may be useful to other new or prospective VITA volunteers as they prepare for and begin their own service to the taxpaying community.