Help available for those who fear tax returns

If the words “tax return” make your stomach flip and your blood run cold, take heart. The intrepid AARP Tax-Aide volunteers have returned, fresh from tax classes with their pencils sharpened, ready to help seniors and others file their 2009 tax return.

Veteran volunteers Alice “Porki” Harris, district coordinator, and her assistant Vern Stewart invite low- and moderate-income people, particularly those 60 and over, to make an appointment to visit their Kalispell tax-assistance site or others locations in Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Bigfork.

Harris and Stewart will work with about 10 other volunteers in Kalispell helping prepare tax returns each Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Feb. 1 to April 12 at the Northridge Lutheran Church.

“You don’t have to be an AARP member to get free tax preparation,” Harris said. “We helped over 1,000 people last year prepare their 2008 returns.”

Harris brings experience dating back to 1991 and Stewart from 1992. Another volunteer, Carlene Peters, has been preparing taxes for over 30 years.

“We’ve seen a lot of changes,” Harris said. “Forms have gotten more complicated and people just don’t want to tackle it.”

Because the laws change from year to year, Harris, Stewart and the other volunteers attend classes every year. They bring the most up-to-date information to help people take as many deductions as possible within the law.

Some of these include the energy tax credit, extended for this year with a $1,500 federal credit and $1,000 state credit for energy-saving improvements such as windows and insulation.

“Also, those not required to file a tax form might qualify for the homeowner/renter tax credit,” Harris said.

People 62 and older who meet certain income guidelines may qualify for a refund if they resided in Montana for at least nine months and owned or rented a home for six months in 2009. The Tax-Aide volunteers can even amend or file returns for other years for additional dollars.

“If we find they qualify and haven’t filed for it in the past, we can go back five years,” Harris said.

Others may receive a credit of $400 for individuals and $800 for married taxpayers under the “Make Work Pay Credit” applicable to some, like the self-employed, on their 2009 return.

The process begins with making an appointment with the Kalispell volunteers by calling 257-1296. The other sites, appointment days, locations and telephone numbers are:

n Columbia Falls, Tuesdays from noon to 4 p.m., Columbia Falls Senior Center, 892-4087.

n Bigfork, Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bigfork Senior Center, 837-4157.

n Whitefish, Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m., Whitefish Community Center, Home of the Golden Agers, 862-4923.

Taxpayers need to bring the following information to their tax-preparation sessions:

n Current year’s tax forms and preparation booklet.

n Copy of last year’s tax return.

n W-2 forms from each employer.

n Unemployment compensation statements.

n All 1099 forms.

n All forms indicating federal income tax paid.

n Dependent care provider information.

n All receipts or canceled checks if itemizing deductions.

n Social Security cards or other official documentation for yourself (picture ID) and all dependents.

The volunteers don’t handle certain complex returns such as those with Schedule C, K-1 or F or rental income. They can handle some simple business returns.

“We can do schedule C-EZ but we can’t do any business that takes a loss,” Harris said.

Harris and Stewart said they are always looking for volunteers who would like to join them in the AARP Tax-Aide program. Generally, it’s detail-oriented people who prepare their own taxes and are looking for a volunteer opportunity.

“This is an excellent program,” Harris said. “You learn so much.”

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com