Volunteers ease consumers' concerns during tax season: stress levels 'dial up' for many CPAs during tax season. Nevertheless, when Ohio taxpayers dialed into local tax call-in programs across the state, OSCPA members answered.

• Position: Involvement

During tax season, nearly 100 OSCPA members manned the phones during tax call-in shows presented by The Ohio Society in partnership with local media. OSCPA volunteers answered more than 3,500 calls from Ohio taxpayers during 13 call-in events held in February and March:

* The Akron Beacon Journal

* The Cleveland Plain Dealer

* WTVG ABC, Toledo

* WCPO-TV 9, Cincinnati

* WBNS 10TV, Columbus

* WAKR-1590 AM Morning Show with Ray Homer, Akron

In addition, Ohio Society member Tim Oatney, CPA, MT moderated a live tax blog forum hosted by The Lancaster Eagle Gazette and Chillicothe Gazette. On Mar. 12, Oatney answered questions from 29 taxpayers during a live, two-hour web chat.

The call-ins provided a much needed public service during an especially difficult year.

The public was ready with questions during the Columbus call-in on Feb. 25. The moment WBNS 10TV broadcast the number, the phone lines lit up. For an hour and a half, the seven CPA volunteers in the studio fielded back-to-back calls from consumers in need.

While many tax questions at last year's programs centered on stimulus payments, this year volunteers addressed a wider variety of inquiries.

Stan Topy, CPA volunteered at the first Columbus event, fielding 49 calls in about 90 minutes.

"I had five calls concerning the $8,000 home credit," Topy said. "But I also had three calls from people with only social security income. They had to file last year to get last year's rebate and wanted to know if they needed to file again this year."

The questions were varied at the Feb. 11 program with WCPO 9 in Cincinnati as well. Carol Topp, CPA, a sole practitioner, said, "I had several callers thank me for providing this valuable service. There were 10 CPAs and the phones.rang non-stop."

Ted Johnson, CPA volunteered for both the Feb. 25 and March 13 events at WBNS 10TV in Columbus. He takes time out of his busy, tax season schedule each year to help with the shows because they provide an important public service.

"I am especially happy when we are able to talk to the elderly," Johnson said. "They are so grateful when we assure them there are no debtors prisons and that they don't have to pay taxes on the little bit of retirement and social security income they receive," he said.

The Society thanks all the expert volunteers who gave their valuable time this tax season to give back to their communities:

WTVG ABC, TOLEDO

Erin Betz, CPA, Gilmore Jasion & Mahler Ltd.

Katie Feher, CPA, Plante & Moran...