Now available across the state: free help with your taxes

PRIME – February 2013 By Linda F. Fitzgerald AARP State President Right now, a corps of more than 600 volunteers is poised and ready to help older Massachusetts residents with basic federal and state tax returns, for free. That's right, once again, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, the largest, volunteer-run, free tax preparation program in the country, is up and running right here in the Commonwealth, with 16 locations in the Pioneer Valley. For those with low to moderate incomes, our volunteers can help identify all the tax credits and deductions for which you may qualify. Tom Ligon of Wayland, Mass., the volunteer state coordinator for AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, recently said, "Nobody is more grateful than a senior with a low-income who just found us, was expecting to get no money back on his or her return, but gets a refund thanks to the 'Circuit Breaker' tax credit." Often overlooked, the Circuit Breaker tax credit is available to Massachusetts property owners and renters who are age 65 and older and meet certain criteria. According to Ligon, the credit may even amount to a few thousand dollars, if the taxpayer is eligible but has not taken advantage of it for the past few years. "Property tax is a real burden on seniors, so the Circuit Breaker is a big help. We can file an amended return for a taxpayer up to three years," Ligon said. He added that this year's maximum Circuit Breaker credit is $1,000. Trained in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, AARP volunteers are indeed well-versed in tax rules. In addition to the Circuit Breaker, they can discuss the following possible tax breaks: • Energy Efficiency Credits may be available to qualifying Bay State residential property owners; and, • Schedule HC, proof of health insurance coverage, which must be completed by all Massachusetts residents. AARP volunteers are knowledgeable and skilled; they are also friendly and helpful. Because of this, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide consistently achieves a significant rate of repeat customers. In fact, a recent survey found that 95 percent of AARP Foundation Tax- Aide clients are very satisfied with the service, and 96 percent would be highly likely to recommend it to others needing assistance. Last year alone, dedicated AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 30,000 Massachusetts residents with tax returns and questions. And, yes, the service really is free. Before meeting with an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteer, all you need to do is gather together some basic information. Be sure to bring the following documents with you to your appointment at the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site: • Your 2012 tax forms and preparation booklet; • A copy of last year's income tax returns; • Your W-2 forms from each employer, • Any unemployment compensation statements; • Your SSA-1099 form if you were paid Social Security benefits; • Your 1099-HC form if you have private health insurance; • All 1099 forms (1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-misc.,) showing interest and/or dividends, as well as documentation showing the original purchase price of your sold assets; • 1099R forms if you received a pension or annuity, and • All receipts or canceled checks if itemizing deductions. A list of AARP Foundation Tax-Aide sites in the Pioneer Valley follows. For more information, or to find a location in another community, call 1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888-227-7669) or go online to www.aarp.org/ma . Remember, time slots fill up quickly, so make your appointment today! Linda F. Fitzgerald is the volunteer state president of AARP Massachusetts, which represents more than 800,000 members age 50 and older in the Bay State. Connect with AARP Massachusetts online at www.aarp.org/ma ; Like AARP at www.facebook.com/AARPMA and follow it at www.twitter.com/AARPMA. Pioneer Valley AARP Tax-Aide sites • Agawam Senior Center, 954 Main St., Agawam, Mass., Appointments: 413-821-0604; • Chicopee Senior Center, 7 Valley View Court., Chicopee, Mass., Appointments:413-534-3698; • East Longmeadow Senior Center, 328 N. Main St., East Longmeadow, Mass., Appointments: 413-525-5436; • Granby Senior Center, 10 W. State St., Granby, Mass. Appointments: 413-467-3239; • Hampden Senior Center, 104 Allen St., Hampden, Mass., Appointments: 413-566-5588; • Holyoke Senior Center, 310 Appleton St., Holyoke, Mass., Appointments: 413-322-5625; • Longmeadow Senior Center, 231 Maple Road., Longmeadow, Mass., Appointments: 413-565-4150; • Ludlow Senior Center, 37 Chestnut St., Ludlow, Mass., Appointments: 413-583-3564; • South Hadley Senior Center, 45 Dayton St., South Hadley, Mass., Appointments: 413-538-5042; • Southwick Senior Center, 454 College Highway, Southwick, Mass., Appointments: 413-569-5498; • Springfield Good Life Center, 1600 E. Columbus Ave., Springfield, Mass., Appointments: 413-787-6785; • Springfield Jewish Community Center, 1160 Dickinson St., Springfield, Mass., Appointments: 413-739-4715; • Springfield Greenleaf Community Center, 1188 Parker St., Springfield, Mass., Appointments: 413-750-2873; • West Springfield Senior Center, 128 Park St., West Springfield, Mass., Appointments: 413-263-3264; • Westfield Senior Center, 40 Main St., Westfield, Mass. Appointments: 413-562-9624; • Wilbraham Senior Center, 45 Post Office Park, Wilbraham, Mass. Appointments: 413-596-8379.