Northeast Iowa RSVP volunteers to provide income tax filing assistance at the Decorah Public Library

Northeast Iowa RSVP Volunteers will be providing electronic income tax filing for low to middle income taxpayers (any age) and those over age 60 beginning February 5th.  RSVP volunteers serve with the AARP & VITA tax programs in Allamakee, Howard & Winneshiek County.  

In Winneshiek County, the services will be provided at the Decorah Public Library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and most Saturday mornings during the tax season, by appointment only.  Phone lines will be open starting Monday, January 21st, to schedule appointments.  Tax preparation services are also offered at the Cresco and Postville Libraries. Call 563-277-5186 to schedule an appointment at any one of these locations. There is no cost for the service, but an appointment is required.

Northeast Iowa RSVP Director Deana Hageman says 21 volunteers have become trained and certified tax preparers. RSVP volunteer preparers engage in 35 to 50 hours of training annually before taking a test to become a certified tax preparer under the AARP Program. The certified volunteers work as a team with each return reviewed for quality control.  Volunteers follow a strict Code of Conduct to ensure confidentiality for the tax payer.  The AARP Tax Aide program is offered in cooperation with the IRS. Hageman says certified volunteers provided tax assistance to 537 low to mid income and elderly clients in 2018.
 
The RSVP Volunteer program matches people age 55 and older with needs in their community.  Volunteers choose where they would like to volunteer and how much time they will spend volunteering.  For more information about the RSVP volunteer program and to learn about other volunteer opportunities in your community, contact Deana at the Decorah Public Library 563-277-5181 or rsvp@decorah.lib.ia.us