January 22, 2009 Issue
Income Tax Assistance Available at Senior Centers Beginning February 3
Appointments Now Being Scheduled
The AARP Tax-Aide Program, in cooperation with the IRS and N.C. Dept. of Revenue, will again offer free tax preparation for seniors, as well as low- and middle-income taxpayers. Electronic filing (E-file) is available for safe and accurate preparation and fast refunds.
Taxpayers should bring the following documents:
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Social Security cards and identifications for taxpayer and all dependents
Last years (2007) tax return
W-2 forms from each employer
1099 forms for Social Security, pension, interest and dividends, and broker/mutual fund income
Detailed list of expenses for medical, charities, taxes and interest, if claiming itemized deductions
A blank check for direct deposit of any refund to a checking or savings account
To be eligible, you should not have any of the following types of income: rental, partnership, business requiring Schedule C, royalties and sale of home or business. If your tax return is relatively complex, you will be advised to seek professional tax assistance.
The program is set up to file federal and NC returns. No out of state returns will be done.
The Tax-Aide program will run from February 3 to April 14.
Counselors will be at the Lois E. Harrill Senior Center in Boone on Tuesdays; dates for the Western Watauga Community Center in Cove Creek will be announced. To make an appointment, call the L.E. Harrill Center at 828-265-8090 or the Western Watauga Center at 828-297-5195.
IRS Expands Free Online Filing Program
For a quick tax refund, file your federal tax returns electronically.
The Internal Revenue Service is expanding a program that enables taxpayers to file returns online at no charge, promising refunds much faster than for those who mail in paper forms.
Taxpayers who file electronically can receive refunds in as few as 10 days, compared to 6 to 8 weeks for those filing paper returns, according to the IRS. The IRS e-file system is available now.
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman encourages taxpayers to explore e-file this year as the best option to file accurate tax returns and get fast refunds during the current economic downturn.
The e-file program includes improvements that will allow nearly all taxpayers to e-file for free.
Taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of $56,000 or less, or about 70 percent of all taxpayers, can use a Free File computer program that walks them through the filing process step by step, much like a tax preparer would.
Taxpayers with higher incomes can fill out and file their tax forms online, just like they would on paper.
IRS e-file allows taxpayers to file their returns now and pay later if they owe taxes. It allows North Carolina taxpayers to file both federal and state returns at the same time.
Nearly 90 million taxpayers filed online last year, about 58 percent of all returns. The IRS Oversight Board, which oversees the IRS, has set a goal of having 80 percent of taxpayers file online by 2012.
To access the IRS e-file system, click to www.irs.gov.
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