AARP program has sites throughout Alaska
The Tax-Aide program is designed to prepare basic tax returns for most low and middle income taxpayers, with an emphasis on senior citizens and disabled taxpayers.
Sites are staffed by volunteers who are trained and certified by Internal Revenue Service and AARP Foundation instructors to prepare basic tax returns. By using AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, these taxpayers also avoid tax preparation fees and pitches for high-interest tax credit or refund loans. And the service is free.
Keep reading for the dates and hours for the sites throughout Alaska. Individuals may also find a nearby Tax Aide site by visiting http://www.aarp.org/taxaide or calling 1-888-227-7669.
For additional information on “self-assisted” sites as well as “Super Saturday” sites in Anchorage, individuals can call the Alaska 211 referral line by dialing 2-1-1 or toll free 1-800-478-2221.
“Everyone should file a return this year due to the high volume of identify thefts,” said Jan Watson, Prospective Volunteer Specialist for AARP Foundation Tax-Aide. “This includes the taxpayers who do not have a filing a requirement and don’t usually file. If they file this year and their identity has been stolen, that is the time it will be flagged and can be investigated. They may not know until it is too late.”
Watson also added that March is a much better time for taxpayers to come in and have their tax returns completed. “Generally, there is a rush at the first of February, but in March, the wait time is minimal.”
With the exception of the Jan. 31 “Super Saturday” event at the NE Muldoon Community Center in Anchorage, all Tax-Aide sites will be open in February.
Anchorage
Anchorage Senior Activity Center, 1300 East 19th Ave. Mondays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Feb. 16 for President’s Day.
NE Muldoon Community Center, 1251 North Muldoon Road. Saturdays, 1 to 4 p.m .; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 to 6 p.m. Thai speaker available.
First Free Methodist Church, 4607 East 6th Ave. Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. Spanish interpreter available.
Spenard Rec Center, 2020 West 48th Ave. Tuesdays, 1 to 5 p.m.
Crosspoint Community Church, 1920 West Dimond (next to JoAnn Fabrics). Tuesdays, 1 to 5 p.m. and Sat., March 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Credit Union 1 – Mountain View, 115 North Bragaw Street. Wednesdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
AARP Alaska State Office, Frontier Building, 3601 C Street, Conference Room 1404. Wednesdays, 1 to 4 p.m.
University Center, 3901 Old Seward Highway (south end of the mall). Feb. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and April 15, noon to 10 p.m.
Chugiak/Eagle River
Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center, 22424 N. Birchwood Loop Road. Wednesdays, noon to 4 p.m .; Saturday, Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mat-Su Valley
Wasilla Senior Center, 1301 Century Circle. Mondays, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 376-3104 for appointment; walk-ins also welcome. Closed Feb. 16.
Mat-Su Evangelical Church, 5201 East Mayflower Lane (located about Mile 7 Palmer-Wasilla Hwy). Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 746-6113 for appointment; walk-ins also welcome.
Mat-Su Senior Services, 1132 S. Chugach. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 745-5454 for appointment; walk-ins also welcome.
Mid-Valley Senior Center, 11975 West Mid Valley Way. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 892-6114 after 10:30 a.m. for appointment; walk-ins also welcome.
Fairbanks
Noel Wien Library, 1215 Cowles Street. Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m. and Tuesdays, 4 to 7 p.m. No appointment necessary; walk-ins welcome. Spanish interpreter available.
Fairbanks Senior Center, 1424 Moore Street. Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. By appointment only; call 452-1735.
Homer
Homer Senior Center, 3935 Svedlund Street. By appointment only; call 235-7655.
Juneau
Mendenhall Public Library, 9105 Mendenhall Mall Road. Saturdays from 12:30 to 4 p.m. No appointment necessary, walk-ins welcome. Homebound call 789-1821 for in-home tax preparation.
Juneau Senior Center, 895 West 12th Street. Fridays, 8 to 11 a.m. By appointment only; call 789-1821
Ketchikan
Ketchikan Public Library, 1110 Copper Ridge Lane. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointment necessary; walk-ins welcome.
Ninilchik
Ninilchik Senior Center, 66265 Aspen Ave. Feb. 23 only, 1 to 5 p.m. 567-3988
Sitka
University of Alaska Southeast, 1332 Seward Ave., Room 226. Wednesdays, 5 to 8:30 p.m. No appointment necessary; walk-ins welcome.
Swan Lake Senior Center, 402 Lake Street. Wednesdays, noon to 3:30 p.m. By appointment only; call 747-8617
Soldotna
Soldotna Senior Center, 235 North Binkley Street. Thursdays, starting Feb. 5; Saturdays Feb. 14, March 14 and April 11 only. Appointment preferred, walk-ins as time permits. Call 262-4227
Valdez
Valdez Consortium Library, 260 Fairbanks. Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m. By appointment only; call 835-5914. Spanish interpreter available with advance notice.
Wrangell
Nolan Center, 1096 Outer Drive. Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. No appointment necessary; walk-ins welcome.
Bring the following documents with you
• Photo ID for all adult taxpayers
• Social security or ITIN cards for all persons listed on the tax return
• W-2 forms, unemployment compensation, SSA-1099 Social Security, 1099-R pension/annuity, all 1099 forms (INT, DIV, B, MISC)
• A list of all deductible expenses (medical, contributions, mortgage interest, property taxes, medical/business mileage)
• Child care expense information (name/employer, address, EIN/Social Security number)
• Written bank account information for direct deposit
• Previous year’s tax return, if available
New for 2014: Bring this health insurance information
• Form 1095A for people who bought from the ACA Marketplace
• A list of who on your tax return had coverage and for which months
• Healthcare.gov exemption certificate number, if you have one
• Taxable income information for dependents listed on the return
