Each year Ohio Society of CPA members make it their duty to give back to Ohio’s deployed military troops and families by volunteering for Operation CPA. Now is your chance to contribute by joining the list of CPAs to be matched with a local military family in your area this tax season.
Operation CPA is a partnership between OSCPA and the Ohio National Guard in which CPAs prepare and file returns free of charge for military service people who are Ohio residents and deployed out of state during tax season. Qualified military participants register through OSCPA and are matched with CPA volunteers. Since 2005, Operation CPA has helped more than 300 military families with tax preparation assistance.
“We did have a very successful match with a military family last year,” said OSCPA member Dale Schwieterman. “We not only prepared their tax return but also did our civic duty as well, along with an act of kindness in helping `cross off’ one of many things on a military family’s `to do’ list. We would have like to have helped out more families and hope to have opportunities again during 2012 tax season to do so.”
The Ohio Society recognizes the sacrifice being made by Ohio Reserve, Guard and active members of the military and is committed to providing a statewide, volunteer-based, program that offers free tax return preparation for Ohio’s deployed military troops. Ohio is the fourth largest state in terms of military personnel and 2,000 additional reservists were called to active duty this fall. OSCPA works closely with the National Guard to promote Operation CPA through available communications channels. However, the association never knows what the need will be from year to year, so it’s important to have enough CPA volunteers ready to help our military families when they call.
To volunteer, contact the OSCPA Member Services Center at 888.959.1212 or email CPAnswers@ohio-cpa.com.
How it works:
- Qualified service members or an immediate family member may call OSCPA to request free tax preparation services from a CPA.
- OSCPA member services will attempt to match requests with volunteers located closest to the service person’s home town.
Volunteers should contact the service person or a family member directly to help prepare their 2011 individual or joint local, state and federal personal tax returns.
“The Ohio Society of CPAs offers this valuable service each year to support Ohio families who have a loved one serving away from home,” said OSCPA president and CEO J. Clarke Price, CAE. “Military families have unique needs and Operation CPA provides much-needed relief at a stressful time.”
Operation CPA is part of The Ohio Society of CPA’s Financial Fitness Ohio program, which provides personal financial management education to all Ohioans.