As we’re reminded every time we saunter into any retail establishment, we are teetering on the brink of Valentine’s Day, so I think it’s safe to declare the “December Holiday Honeymoon” officially over, including (I hope!) whatever form of “hangover” (residual visitors, unidentifiable leftovers and faces frozen into perpetual smiles ala’ BOTOX, etc.) might have resulted from said unbridled gaiety.
So, now what? Well, never at a loss for ways to keep us entertained and off the streets, Uncle Sam will now present “Tax Season!” I know that you thought that just trying to decipher Medicare Part D and Advantage Plans could have easily kept us occupied until, at least, Independence Day, but our Great Uncle underestimates our collective attention span and, so, injects The Graduated Income Tax.
This is probably not the best possible forum to debate the relative pro’s and con’s (Did I say “Con’s?”) of this particular approach to taxation, but I am struck with the ever-escalating level of complexity associated with it; a reasonable person can only conclude that we must have a national concern about the economic survival of professional tax preparers and Congresspeople, because if we didn’t there would be no justification for it at all.
One really does have to wonder at the complexity of it all – Part D, Advantage Plans, taxes, healthcare, remote controls – Whatever happened to Roy Rogers and rotary phones? Well, nonetheless, here we are and here we’ll stay, eyeball-to-eyeball with the IRS.
Not all Elders and/or retired folk are faced with this unfortunate prospect, so if your income is such that you can sidestep the whole event, this may well represent the only time of the year that you feel fortunate – We, who are about to die, salute you.
Many of us, however, remain conspicuously on the radar of the Internal Revenue Service, and the Ides of April looms large in our collective psyche (actually, this year, we have until April 18th, due to Divine Intervention and the vagaries of the calendar), but still producing the anticipated, annual whimper: Help.
Help, Indeed! “Help” is the only rational response to an irrational situation! Oddly, ironically, coincidentally (and adverbally), this very column happens to be called “Help Line,” so let me see if I can help: How ‘bout “TAX AIDE?”
These are the Good Guys, remember? These are volunteers who, voluntarily, submit to IRS-induced training in order to sit down with you and help you get your taxes done – For free. This is a program jointly sponsored by AARP and IRS (No, you do not have to be a member of AARP – Being a member of IRS is optional). Who’s eligible? “Middle and low income” folks who don’t have income from rental properties or complicated business returns, with particular attention to those 60 or better (regardless of how much better).
What’s the catch? Well, you can’t be rich (and isn’t it refreshing to be able to openly discriminate against “rich people?!”), and you have to show up and you have to bring your W-2’s, 1099s and last year’s tax return. You’ll also want to bring a photo ID and Social Security card for yourself and your dependents. AND, because of some new wrinkles, you’ll also want to bring:
- Evidence of any energy efficiency improvements you may have made to your home;
- Real estate closing statement, if you purchased a new home in 2010 and are eligible for the “First-Time Homebuyer Credit;
- Bank account numbers, if you want a refund via direct deposit, and…
- …anything else you can think of.
Now, about the “show up” part and remember, these all begin on February 1st, but you can start making appointments now:
- Port Angeles Senior Center, Mondays, 9:00-3:00, call 457-7004 for appointment;
- Port Angeles Library, Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9:00-3:00 – Just show up;
- Forks Community Center, Saturdays, 10:00-4:00, on 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, 3/19 and 4/2 – Call 374-6193 for appointment;
- Sequim Senior Center, Wednesdays, 12:30-3:00 and Saturdays, 9:00-3:00, call 683-6806 for appointment;
- Sekiu Community Center, Friday March 4th, 10:00-2:00;
- Tri-Area Community Center, Wednesdays, 3:00-7:00 (pm!) and Thursdays, 10:00-2:00 – Call 732-4822 for appointment;
- Port Townsend Community Center, Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:00-2:00, call 385-9007 for appointment.
Now, before you get the other foot out the door, consider this: If you are a taxpayer who itemizes deductions (as opposed to just taking the “standard deduction” and making a run for it), OR you’ll be taking the “Tuition & Fees” OR “Educator Expense” deductions, please schedule your TAX AIDE appointments for March. The reason for this is that changes to tax law were made so late in 2010 that the IRS didn’t have a chance to catch-up.
What else do you have to do? Well, feel free to thank these folks profusely! They’re not getting paid to do this, just like they’re not asking us to pay. They get to sit through training, take tests and then give away substantial parts of their lives, all in the name of helping us (not to mention having to listen to us whine), so “thank you” seems inadequate – But, it’s a start. GEEZ! – Even Santa Clause got milk and cookies!
thank you for your interesting infomation.
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