Keeping up with all the changes in federal income tax laws and filing rules can be especially difficult for older adults, some of whom are just learning to live with the lifestyle changes that come with a fixed income on Social Security.

Five tax professionals in our parish have joined a volunteer program that helps take the anxiety out of tax time for seniors. In the weeks leading up to the April tax filing deadline, Frank Jeglic, Bob Johnson, Bill Jurey, Bob Smith and Jack Brumbaugh met two or three mornings a week with clients at the Wadsworth Center for Older Adults.

The five volunteers are among a larger group of ten Wadsworth men and women who took a class in January to update their proficiency as advisors qualified to help persons with tax issues that come with advancing age.

The volunteers helped over 350 clients this year, even handling filing of electronic tax returns — a process that can be intimidating for persons who are unfamiliar with computers and the Internet.

"I wish to thank these people for giving me this tax assistance," said Stelle Briechel, a local woman who received help from Bob Smith in preparing her return. "We are glad to help,"

.The program, which is not limited to helping the elderly, is a combination of two volunteer efforts, called Tax Assistance for the Elderly (TCE) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). This was started years ago as a joint project of the Internal Revenue Service of the federal government and the American Association of Retired Persons.

The site coordinator in Wadsworth is Warren Longfield, and other participants are Paul Brown of Wadsworth, John and Marge Clifrton of Rittman, and Debbie Ruttig of Rittman. — JACK BRUMBAUGH

In photo above, Bob Smith interviews a client, Stelle Briechel, at the Wadsworth Center.