AARP to offer free income tax assistance

It's tax season, and along with that comes a lot of headaches for most folks.

Beginning February 2 through April 13, the AARP will offer free income tax assistance at the following locations:

Fridays: 8am-noon, at the Henderson County Senior Center, 3344 Hwy. 31 East, Athens

Mondays: 8am-noon, at the Library at Cedar Creek Lake, 410 East Cedar Creek Parkway

Wednesdays: 8am-noon, at the Senior Citizens Center, 503 North Terry St., Malakoff

AARP Tax Aide and Local coordinator Gilbert Betts said the following are the most important things taxpayers should know:

1. Our services are com- pletely free, to include electronic filing.

2. All eligible returns will be filed electronically.

3. All returns are completed with computer software, except amended returns.

4. Taxpayers do not have to be elderly or members of AARP to use our service.

5. We are the busiest the first few weeks of February. If you are patient and come in later in the season we will probably not be as busy and the wait will probably be shorter.

6. Married taxpayers should both come to the site unless one is incapacitated.

7. We do not prepare extremely complicated returns; however, we will assist taxpayers with such returns and advise them what steps they should take to get their return completed.

8. Counselors may not be present for the entire posted hours if no taxpayers are present for assistance.

9. On the other hand, we will normally stay longer than the posted hours if extremely busy.

10. This service is provided by the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the IRS.

11. Taxpayers who are unable to travel to one of these sites may phone Gil Betts at 903-778-2423, to request tax assistance in their home.

12. Taxpayers should bring with them:

a. A copy of the prior year's return (if filed).

b. All tax related documents received in the mail.

c. Social Security cards for all taxpayers and all dependents.

d. Date of birth for all dependents.