30 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PREPARE TAX FORMS FREE IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Thirty volunteers from the IRS-VITA program will be canvassing Southeast Missouri offering to figure tax returns for free beginning next week.

VITA, or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, began 13 years ago in Cape Girardeau. Training for this year's group will be completed today and their first day for helping people with their tax returns is Monday at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

The group has trained all week with IRS tax law specialist Sam Catalano of St. Louis.

"A lot of this is review for many of the people," he said. "We go over changes in the law and hit some of the highlights."

During the weeklong training session, students have read and worked exercises in a 785-page textbook. They also have worked many hours outside the class in preparation for today's test, which certifies them to help figure tax returns.

"It's really gone quite fast," said Eileen Holman, a volunteer from Jackson, "and I've learned a lot."

Holman said that her employer, Mercantile Bank, gave her the week away from work to attend the session conducted by the Internal Revenue Service. She said her job as credit administrator for the bank will also benefit from her training.

Sue Busche of Cape Girardeau participated in the training session for the second time. She said she has to refresh herself with the tax system before even doing her own tax returns. In addition to helping others, she said she does tax returns for members of her family.

"After the first time taking the training," she said, "I was still intimidated about helping people. But I could at least sharpen pencils and give the time of day."

Busche is more comfortable helping people this year. She took the training after her tax preparer made a simple mistake.

"I caught it and pointed it out to him, and he laughed," she said. "I figured I could make the same mistake he did and not pay him $90 for it."

Most taxpayers won't be turned away by VITA volunteers who figure taxes for free. But the program was set up to aid the elderly, indigent and handicapped.

During tax season, VITA volunteers will be at these sites:

Mondays: Cape Girardeau Public Library between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Tuesdays: Jackson Nutrition Center 9:30 to noon

Wednesdays: Illmo House Authority between 9:30 and 11 p.m.

And by appointment in Bell City.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Dorothy Ank at 334-1871.