HEADLINE:   Need Tax Help???

The rains have come and are nearly gone.  Spring is just around the corner.  That means it is TAX TIME!  Do you need assistance preparing your federal and state tax returns?  Did you know that AARP foundation, in conjunction with the IRS, offers a free tax-preparation service called “AARP Tax-Aide”?  This service is available now through April 15^th at varying locations in your community.

How can you find tax aide sites? To locate a site near year, visit the AARP website at www.aarp.org/taxaide OR call the toll free number:  1-888-227-7669.  By entering your zip code, the website will provide a number of tax site locations nearby.  Each site maintains its own schedule, so be sure to call the phone number provided to schedule an appointment.

The AARP foundation, through trained community volunteers, offers both federal and state tax preparation service, to low and moderate income tax payers, with special attention to those age 60 and older.  Taxpayers with complex tax returns will be advised to seek professional tax assistance.

AARP Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest, free volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation

Service. Since 1968, AARP Tax –Aide has helped more than 47.7 million taxpayers file their returns.  AARP Tax-Aide sties are located in convenient places such as libraries, malls, banks and community senior centers.  In some instances, tax preparers can visit taxpayers in nursing homes and other locations, if they are physically unable to visit a site.

How should you prepare for your tax meeting?   Gather up and take along the following items:

• Social Security cards or other official documentation for yourself and all dependents;
• Copy of last year’s income tax returns;
• Unemployment compensation statements;
• SSA-1099 form if you were paid Social Security benefits
• All 1009 forms (1009 INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-MISC, etc) showing interest and/or dividends as well as documentation showing the original purchase price of your hold assets
• 1099R forms if you received a pension or annuity;
• All forms indicating federal income tax paid;
• Child care provider information (name, employer ID, social security number)
• Receipts or canceled checks if itemizing deductions
• Social Security numbers for all dependents
• Property tax payment documentation
• Photo ID

Things to remember this year -- If you are new “client” this year and have not used the service before, be sure to bring valid photo ID such as your driver’s license or CA State Identification Card. Also, since, if filling jointly, both parties must sign the tax documents, plan to attend together with your spouse or know that the signature of the second party must be obtained before the forms can be electronically filed.  Finally, new this year, even if you do not itemize your deductions, property taxes may now be included, so be sure to bring documentation of your payments for property taxes if you are a homeowner.

AARP Tax-Aide service is staffed by more than 34,600 dedicated, trained IRS-certified community volunteers.  In 2009, over 34,600 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 2.6 million taxpayers file their federal, state and local returns, including special Stimulus returns. · AARP Tax-Aide started in 1968 with four volunteers providing tax assistance to older taxpayers in the District of Columbia. Since 1980, the program has operated under a cooperative agreement with the IRS as part of the IRS Tax Counseling for the Elderly program.

How do I know about the program?  I volunteer at the San Carlos Tax-Aide site.   So if you’ve read this article and are coming in for an appointment, be sure to say “HOWDY!”