Posted: 2/22/2008

In January, Michael Kreps of Groom Law Group assisted in the training of volunteer tax preparers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA Program) at Andrews Air Force Base. The VITA Program is a nationwide program organized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide free assistance to low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals who require help in preparing their tax returns but cannot afford the services of a paid professional tax preparer.

As part of a pilot program between the Pro Bono Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation and the IRS, Michael had the opportunity to teach a class of approximately one-hundred service men and women how to prepare personal income tax returns for military personnel. The preparers Michael trained will use the knowledge they gained in the class to prepare tax returns for hundreds (if not thousands) of military taxpayers on bases in the greater Washington, DC area. For Michael, who is a veteran VITA Program volunteer, the experience was the perfect way to put his knowledge and experience to work for a worthy cause. “I cannot think of a group more worthy of our help,” said Michael, “than the men and women that protect our country.”