VITA TAX SERVICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP FIL '91 TAXES

Volunteers are needed to help others with their tax returns as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service.

"The VITA program uses volunteers to provide free assistance to taxpayers who cannot afford professional help," said Dorothy Ank, coordinator for the program at Cape Girardeau.

Ank explained that the volunteers frequently are college students, law students or members of professional business organizations.

"They receive special training courses in income tax preparations," said Ank.

The training classes have been set for Jan. 27-31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cape Budget Inn, Interstate 55 and Route K.

An IRS representative will teach each class.

VITA instructors and training materials will be provided by the IRS.

"This is the eighth year for the program here," says Ank, who pointed out that the program has been successful over the past five years, with many volunteers and participants.

"We'll use some of the same people from last year," said Ank. "But we still need some additional volunteers."

VITA volunteers assist low-income, elderly, handicapped and non-English-speaking people by explaining the special credits and deductions for which they may qualify and helping them to prepare their returns.

The programs can be sponsored by local civic or fraternal organizations, educational institutions, churches and social groups.

For the convenience of taxpayers who cannot travel to an IRS office, most VITA volunteers provide assistance at neighborhood sites such as schools, churches and libraries.

Additional information is available by contacting Ank at 334-1871.