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Tara Lambert

Tara Lambert started Getting Down to Business class one month after she moved to Ithaca. “I was planning to open my nutritional counseling practice and this class was invaluable…I don’t think I would have been prepared to open my practice without it. The class taught me everything. I learned profit/loss analysis, break even analysis and how to record and track my finances…”

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Volunteer for Free Tax Preparation Program
Outreach Materials | Free Tax Assistance Information | Itemization | Volunteer for Free Tax Preparation Program | Refund Express Loans | Tax referrals | Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Volunteer for the Free Tax Preparation Program at Alternatives Credit Union

Would you like to help put more money in the hands of working low-income people? Each year, Americans spend millions of dollars on tax preparation and even more is lost in unclaimed credits. Help us offer an alternative! Volunteer with our Free Tax Preparation Program and learn how to prepare taxes for working families and individuals.

Become a Tax Preparation Volunteer!

In 2003, Alternatives spearheaded a free tax program to encourage community members to claim their tax refunds and to provide an alternative solution to predatory tax preparers. To date, we've prepared over 4,000 tax returns for working families and individuals. While receiving free tax preparation, many of them learned about how they can claim and invest earned income tax credits, education credits and child and dependent care credits.

This year, we're hoping to reach even more taxpayers and help them to claim the $1.4 million that the IRS estimates goes unclaimed in the Ithaca area each year. We need volunteers to greet participants, prepare taxes and provide financial education.

This great volunteer opportunity is a match for anyone interested in a variety of topics, including:

  • Accounting
  • Business
  • Economics
  • Social Justice
  • Community Development
  • Public Policy
  • Counseling

Just think - an hour of your time can mean $5,000 in additional income for a working family!

It's more than just taxes!
Volunteer positions include:

Front Desk Managers. Like to meet new people? Volunteer to greet clients, answer phones and schedule appointments.

C.A.S.H. Advisors. If you're a good listener and enjoy one-on-one coaching, you'll assist clients in reviewing their financial needs and suggest other services that support self-sufficiency.

Tax Preparers. Enjoy working with numbers and computers? Help filers complete their tax forms.
No experience is necessary. Volunteers will learn to work with selected elements of the tax code and/or learn financial education strategies to help low-income families and individuals make the most of the credits they receive. Professional tax preparers offer lots of support to new preparers and educators.

Qualifications & Requirements

  • Successful completion of appropriate training
  • Volunteer for at least 20 hours per tax season
  • Sign and conform to a confidentiality pledge
  • Be mature, responsible, patient and punctual
  • Have strong oral communication skills
  • For preparers: Display computer proficiency


To volunteer, or for more information, contact:
Rima Shamieh at 216-3438 or rima@alternatives.org.

Bilingual volunteers are especially welcome!