Volunteer finds niche in tax prep assistance

Tax season is in full swing and Joann Tharp of Plymouth is ready to assist you.

Every Tuesday, from now until April 10, Tharp will be at the Beatrice Public Library to provide free tax counseling and preparation assistance to low- to middle-income people.

While some people may find filing their taxes to be work, Tharp enjoys it.

“I found my niche with taxes,” Tharp said.

So for the next seven weeks, Tharp, Marla Weichel of Diller and Jean Thomas of Beatrice will donate their time and energies from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. every Tuesday at the Beatrice Public Library to help people with filing their taxes through the AARP Tax-Aide program.

For the past 20 years, Tharp has been volunteering with the Internal Revenue Service and AARP programs, assisting people with their yearly tax preparation.

“It's the people who come back,” Tharp said. “I'm appreciated.”

Tharp became involved when she was forced to take over the accounting of the family business and see that the taxes were filed the year her mother died and their accountant took ill. At the time, she worked at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and she made trips to the federal building in Lincoln for assistance on her taxes.

Through their help and encouragement, she got her taxes done and they convinced her to begin volunteering with the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, a program that assists low- to middle-income people with filing their taxes.