CPAs are ready to help to prepare tax returns
for deployed Minnesota soldiers at no charge
Last year, 60 Minnesota CPAs and CPA firms
prepared nearly 200 tax returns for deployed soldiers at no
charge. The program is made possible through a partnership
between the MNCPA and the Minnesota Military Family Readiness
Programs. The 2008 tax season marks the fourth consecutive year
of the program.
According to LTC Jim Swanson of the Minnesota National Guard,
"The MNCPA has assisted many military families during their
deployment of service. Through this program, many families have
been able to turn to a trusted source of knowledge to assist
them in fulfilling their duties as American citizens by filing
their taxes. Each filing was done free of charge through the
generous donation of time by the Society’s members."
"During deployments families have more than
enough to worry about. The CPA Society’s participation is
greatly appreciated, evidenced by the fact that in every
reference we give, the families want to wholeheartedly thank
everyone involved in the program for their assistance and their
compassion," adds Swanson.
How the program works
Although the MNCPA recruits the volunteers and helps to promote
the program, qualified candidates still need to contact the
military office to utilize the program. Each service member or
spouse gets the contact information of a CPA in their area to
make arrangements for the return.
Deployed military personnel (all branches) who are residents of
Minnesota qualify for free tax preparation of their 2007 state
and federal individual income tax returns.
Service members or
their spouse should call Minnesota National Guard Family
Programs at 651-268-8200 or 888-234-1274 to be connected with a
volunteer.
Other resources
This program is just one of the many that fall under the MNCPA’s
financial literacy efforts in Minnesota. Members also provide
tax help during the Taxline phone bank at KARE 11, by
volunteering with
AccountAbility Minnesota and
speaking to groups in the community. The
360 Degrees of Financial Literacy
programs also offer financial information specific to military
personal.
The MNCPA is part of the national
360 Degrees of
Financial Literacy campaign to help Americans’ improve
financial literacy. Resources and information are available
online at
www.360financialliteracy.org including specific information
for
military and reserves personnel.
The Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants (MNCPA) is
committed to serving the public interest with programs that
advance the highest standards of ethics and practice within the
CPA profession.
Additional tax information and resources are
available to the public,
including state and federal
tax forms, and
financial planning
information for individuals and small businesses. There's
also a free
CPA referral service available to the public. Call
1-800-331-4288 for more information. |
