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AARP tax-aide volunteers to provide free help with returns
See related story: Tax forms available at Stillwater Public Library
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Jan. 27, 2011) –AARP Tax Aide volunteers will be on-hand to help people prepare their income tax forms at two City of Stillwater locations.
Beginning, Wednesday, Feb.1, volunteers will be at the City of Stillwater Senior Activity Center, 1015 E. 12th Ave., Monday through Thursday between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and at the Stillwater Public Library, 1107 S. Duck St., Wednesday and Thursday between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The last day of tax assistance will be April 14 at the Library and April 18 at the Senior Center.
“This service is completely free,” said Bob Lowrey, AARP Tax Aide volunteer. “No appointment is necessary.”
Taxpayers should bring the following documents with them:
- Social Security Cards for the taxpayer, spouse, and dependents.
- Photo identification such as a driver’s license.
- A copy of your TY 2009 Federal and State income tax returns.
- Taxpayer must be present at the Tax-Aide site for assistance. If filing Married Filing Jointly, both spouses are required to sign the tax returns.
- Birth dates for primary and secondary taxpayers, and dependents.
- Wage and earning statement(s) Forms W-2, W-2G (gambling winnings), 1099-G (unemployment compensation), from all sources.
- 1099-R, CSA 1099-R, and/or RRB 1099-R if receiving pension/annuity.
- 1099 Misc. received, e.g. oil/gas royalty, self-employment or other income.
- Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099s) and any Brokerage 2010 Consolidated Statements.
- Bank Routing Numbers and Account Numbers for Direct Deposit.
- If you believe your itemized deductions will exceed your standard deduction, bring records and information covering your qualified expenses for Medical, Mortgage Interest paid, Taxes Paid, Gifts to Charity, Job Expenses and Miscellaneous Deductions, and Other Miscellaneous Deductions such as gambling losses up to gambling winnings.
- Total amount paid for Day Care and Provider’s identifying number and statement.
- Knowledge of receiving in 2010 the $250 economic recovery payment scheduled for payment in the summer of 2009. In these cases, taxpayers must reduce their making work pay credit in 2010 by the $250 economic recovery payment they received in 2010.
- The Oklahoma excise tax paid in 2010 for a qualified vehicle purchased after 02- 16-09, and before 01-01-10. Bring the vehicle purchase price and sales price.
- Tuition and Fees information including Form 1098-T (Tuition Statement).
According to Lowrey, the IRS will not be prepared to process certain returns until Feb. 14. The people affected are:
- Taxpayers who itemizes their deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A;
- Taxpayers who claim the Educator Expense Deduction on Form 1040, line 23 or Form 1040A, line 16; and
- Taxpayers who take the Tuition and Fees deduction claimed on Form 8917 and reported on Form 1040, line 34 or Form 1040A, line 19.
Taxpayers can visit http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=234736,00.html?portlet=7 to find whether they will be affected by the delays.
For taxpayers who are unable to get assistance during the day, the library has scheduled a presentation on the basics of preparing tax returns online. The Tuesday, Feb. 22 program, which begins at 7 p.m., will be presented by Monika Turek, OSU Spears School of Business instructor. Monika will be discussing the process of filing taxes online. Several AARP Tax-Aide volunteers will be present to assist in answering questions.
Options for taxpayers to prepare their own taxes online include purchasing tax software or visiting www.irs.gov and reading the “freefile” link to determine if they qualify for any of the sixteen companies offering free federal tax preparation and e-filing.
“State tax preparation and e-filing are available by most of the companies,” said Lowrey. “The cost is very reasonable.”
For more information, about the AARP Tax-Aide service, contact the Senior Activity Center at (405) 747-8080 or Stillwater Public Library by phone at (405) 372-3633 or by e-mail at askalibrarian@stillwater.org.
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Contact: Sherry Fletcher, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Phone: 405.742.8362
E-mail: sfletcher@stillwater.org
Web: stillwater.org