Volunteers offer free tax help starting Monday

As tax time approaches, a group of community volunteers will once again provide free tax help for low- and moderate-income residents beginning on Feb. 7.

Each Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through April 11, a team trained for AARP's Tax-Aide program offers help at the Northridge Lutheran Church at 323 Northridge Drive in Kalispell. The church donates the space for this effort.

Although trained by AARP, these volunteer tax preparers serve more than senior citizens. Vern Stewart, coordinator of the local Tax-Aide program, said people over 60 get special attention but younger people are welcome.

According to Stewart, the AARP has offered tax assistance for more than 20 years. He became involved about seven years ago but some on the team have been helping others for more than two decades.

The volunteer tax counselors take training annually so they can accurately help others complete their yearly tax obligations.

Once again this year, the Tax-Aide program offers electronic tax filing.

To receive assistance, people just show up on Monday and sign in.

The group doesn't apply any income guidelines to qualify people for assistance. However, complicated returns, including items such as multiple stock sales, go beyond their scope.

"What we want to stress the most is that they need to bring their past year's returns," Stewart said.

Other items needed include:

. Current year's tax forms and preparation booklet.

. W-2 forms from each employer.

. Unemployment compensation statements.

. SSA-1099 form for any Social Security benefits received.

. All 1099 forms.

Stewart stressed that gathering the information prior to showing up for help saves time for both the counselors and the taxpayers. In past years, many people ended up going home to retrieve information.

Some residents use the service to double-check their own calculations. Stewart said the volunteers will try to arrange home visits to help disabled people with their taxes.

For more information, call 752-8062 or 752-0322. Telephone service at the church location is donated by CenturyTel.