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Tax volunteer efforts and MLK Day 2012

January 16, 2012

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday has come to mean more than just a break from work.

Since the establishment in 1984 of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in conjunction with the federal MLK holiday, this January day is commemorated by many as a day of personal action in Dr. King's memory.

The Corporation for National and Community Service characterizes MLK Day as a day on, not a day off.

MLK Day of Service banner

To that end, the Corporation, a federal agency that coordinates the volunteer efforts of more than five million Americans through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America and United We Serve, offers guidance on ways to serve on MLK Day and beyond.

Tax volunteers: Since it's tax season, I also want to mention the IRS' Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program.

VITA is just one of the many ways taxpayers can find free help in filling out and filing their taxes.

VITA's program offers free tax preparation and filing assistance to low- and moderate-income individuals; this year that's generally $50,000 or less.

Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country.

VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing.

To find a VITA site near your, call 1-800-906-9887.

If you qualify for VITA or know someone who does, be sure to take advantage of the program in your area this year.

You also might find these items of interest:

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The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

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TAX-SAVVY WAYS 
TO WRAP UP 2026

It’s over! With October’s extended filing deadline behind us, it is now time to focus on year-end moves to reduce your 2026 tax bill. 

You’ll find ways to do just that on the Tax Tips page (see the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of the blog), as well as the separate tax tip pages for each month, notably October through December. If you’re on the Tax Tips page, you’ll find a monthly list at the end of this column. If you’re on another blog page, you can head straight to the October tips; at the bottom of that tips page you’ll find links to all the other 11 months’ collections of tax advice.

Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings. 

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year. 

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Credits/Deductions
Disasters
Family
Filing and Paying Taxes
Politics/Laws
Refunds
State Taxes
Tax Brackets/Inflation
Tax Tips
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