Tax-Aide at Sarasota libraries helps those in need

Aarp Foundation

TAX AIDE

Ian Swaby Staff Writer

Mike Roberts said his favorite applications for volunteer tax-aide positions come from people with relatively little tax-preparation experience.

Roberts manages the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program in select Sarasota County libraries. He said he looks for applicants who have filed their own taxes before or perhaps assisted their neighbors in filing taxes.

“I love it. It’s perfect. We can train you from there,” he said.

After all, Roberts describes the efforts of the program — funded by the AARP and certified by the IRS— as being by the community and for the community. Volunteers can come from all backgrounds, though experience as a certified public accountant can be helpful, Roberts said. Likewise, the program accepts users from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Roberts said while tax-preparation experience is helpful in handling the more difficult cases, it isn’t necessary, thanks to the training that volunteer tax-aides receive.

The only expectation of program users is that they request help with their taxes. Roberts said he’s particularly interested in serving people with low or moderate incomes since they may not be able to afford a taxpreparation service.

The program remains available from Feb. 1 to the end of tax season, which is April 18 this year.

Ellen India, the adult services coordinator with Sarasota County Libraries, said the service follows libraries’ overall purpose.

2-6 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through April 18. Selby Public Library, 1331 First St. Call 941-500-2257 (outgoing message only). Available at Gulf Gate Public Library (7112 Curtiss Ave.) and Fruitville Public Library (100 Apex Road) by appointment only. To volunteer with AARP volunteer, visit AARP.org.

“This is our main mission. It’s in our DNA, so to speak. We play a key role in empowering community members in as many ways as we can, and one of them is financial stability.”

India said the library is also working with United States Suncoast to offer Volunteer Income Tax Assistance at libraries that do not currently provide tax help. This year, the VITA service is being offered at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library and is available until April 8.

Roberts said that as anyone who has ever tried to fill out their taxes knows, understanding what to do is never easy.

Despite being a volunteer of 15 years, Roberts said, “I still run into situations where I look something up for somebody and it’s got something a little bit on the strange side. I have to read it three, four, five, six times to understand it.”

However, volunteers include some certified public accountants who can help with some of the more complex issues. India said due to difficulties with taxes, the popularity of the service has endured.

“The demand always exceeds what we are able to provide,” she said. “They’re just such an important resource for the community. They’re always busy. They’re very popular at every location where we have them.”