 |
|
Tax assistance begins at Senior Activity Center, Stillwater Public Library Feb. 1
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Jan. 23, 2012) – AARP Tax-Aide volunteers will be on-hand to help people prepare their income tax forms at the Senior Activity Center and the Stillwater Public Library beginning Feb. 1. The volunteers will be available Monday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-noon at the Senior Activity Center and each Tuesday and Wednesday between 1-4 p.m. at the Stillwater Public Library. The last day of tax assistance will be April 17.
“We file your taxes online and this service is completely free,” said Zona Noyes, AARP Tax Aide volunteer. “We provide help on a first-come, first-served basis, so no appointment is necessary.”
The taxpayer must be present at the Tax-Aide site to receive assistance. If filing “married filing jointly,” then both spouses are required to sign the tax returns before filing.
Taxpayers are asked to bring the following documents with them to the library:
- Social Security Ccards for the taxpayer, spouse, and dependents.
- Photo identification such as a driver’s license.
- A copy of your TY 2010 federal and state income 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 2011 Consolidated Statements.
- Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit.
- If the taxpayer believes itemized deductions will exceed the standard deduction, then bring records and information covering qualified expenses for medical, mortgage interest paid, taxes paid, gifts to charity, job expenses and miscellaneous deductions, andother miscellaneous deductions such as gambling losses up to gambling winnings.
- Total amount paid for day care and provider’s identifying number and statement.
- Tuition and fees information including form 1098-T (tuition statement).
Options for taxpayers to prepare their own taxes online are available and 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 Noyes. “The cost is very reasonable.”
For more information, about the AARP Tax-Aide service, contact the Senior Activity Center at (405) 372-8070 or the Stillwater Public Library at (405) 372-3633 or by email at askalibrarian@stillwater.org. The Senior Activity Center is located at 1015 E. 12th Ave., and the Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 South Duck St.
-30-
Find tax forms and assistance at Stillwater Public library
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Jan. 9, 2012) –Taxpayers looking for federal products will find a variety of forms, instructions and information publications at the Stillwater Public library beginning Wednesday, Jan. 4.
“We have started receiving a few of the forms already,” said Lynda Reynolds, library director. “The remainder of the forms will be stocked as they trickle into the library. In recent years, due to revisions, many items have been delayed as late as February.”
According to Reynolds, getting physical forms has become more difficult over the years. Last year, the federal government quit mailing forms to taxpayers’ homes. In addition, tax materials will not be available at the Stillwater Post Office again this year.
While state forms will not be provided to the library for distribution, taxpayers who received state forms in the mail last year should receive them in the mail again this year.
People who do not receive a state form in the mail can print it from the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) website, www.tax.ok.gov, or call (405) 521-3160 to ask for one in the mail.
Federal business forms that cannot be printed from the IRS, like the 1099-MISC, will be available in the library’s Small Business Center. An expanded number of business tax publications will also be available.
Both the federal and state governments are encouraging taxpayers to try electronically filing their return. E-file is available through the IRS and OTC websites. While all taxpayers qualify for free federal filing options at www.irs.gov, only taxpayers with incomes below certain levels will qualify for free state filing. The free state options and qualifications will be posted on the OTC website after Jan. 17.
For community members who prefer to get help with filing, free tax preparation assistance will be available beginning Wednesday, Feb.1. AARP volunteers will be at the Stillwater Public Library, 1107 S. Duck St., each Tuesday and Wednesday 1- 4 p.m. The last day of tax assistance will be April 17.
“We invite all our community members to use the library’s free internet service for tax filing,” said Reynolds. “We also encourage anyone who needs to locate forms or services to contact us. The library is one of the last public places still providing tax help. We may not have all of the answers but we are committed to finding the help you need.”
For additional questions about Stillwater Public Library’s tax services, call (405) 372-3633, ext. 106 or e-mail askalibrarian@stillwater.org. Links to tax forms will be posted on the library’s website at http://library.stillwater.org.
-30-
Contact: Sherry Fletcher, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Phone: 405.742.8362
E-mail: sfletcher@stillwater.org
Web: stillwater.org