VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE GROUP LOOKS FOR CLIENTS

Dorothy Ank and the other volunteers with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in Cape Girardeau County have a problem.

They want to assist qualified low income, elderly/handicapped and non-English speaking residents who live in the Cape Girardeau-Jackson-Scott City-Bell City area. The volunteers will prepare their 1993 federal income tax returns.

But with the April 15 tax filing deadline just 6 working days away, very few people have taken advantage of the free tax assistance program.

Ank said one reason for the low response this year is a lack of publicity. She said, "The federal government cut back drastically this year on publicity for the IRS-VITA program. We believe a lot of people who are eligible for our tax assistance program are not aware the program is operating again this year.

"We did not receive any publicity posters this year, and the IRS has not prepared any radio, TV or newspaper public service ads on the VITA program."

Ank said response to this year's IRS-VITA program has not been what it should be this close to the filing deadline.

"I want to get the word out to everyone that the VITA program is going on right now, and that we have a full staff of volunteers ready to assist," Ank added.

The IRS-VITA program is sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, in cooperation with thousands of IRS-trained volunteers. These volunteers include university students, law students and members of various professional and business organizations who have received specialized training by IRS instructors.

"This is our 12th year of operation in Cape Girardeau County," said Ank. "This year we have 25 IRS-VITA volunteers who are working each week in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City. The VITA services are also available on an individual appointment basis in Bell City."

Ank said until April 15, VITA volunteers will be at the following locations:

-- Monday, April 11, noon-3 p.m., in the Hirsch Community Room at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

-- Tuesday, April 12, 9:30 a.m.-noon at the Jackson Nutrition Center.

-- Wednesday, April 13, 9 a.m.-noon at the Illmo Housing Authority Center.

Individual appointments for IRS-VITA assistance in Bell City can be made by calling 1-733-4112 or 334-1871.

Ank said persons seeking assistance should bring with them their 1992 federal tax return, 1993 W-2 forms and Form 1099s for interest and dividends, any papers relating to pension payments and any other documents that list income or deductible expenses in 1993.

Additional information on the IRS-VITA program can be obtained by calling Ank, 334-1871.