Free tax assistance available

February marks the opening of TaxAide sites around Alaska. The AARP Foundation TaxAide program is designed to prepare basic tax returns for most low and middle income taxpayers, with an emphasis on seniors 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.

Following are the dates and hours for the sites throughout Alaska. Individuals may also find a nearby TaxAide 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.

TaxAide clients are required to have a photo ID plus Social Security cards for all people named on the tax return, according to Jan Watson, Alaska Prospective Volunteer Specialist for AARP Foundation TaxAide.

“An easy way to have that information is to take a picture of the cards with your phone, show the information at the tax site and, when complete, delete the photo,” Watson said. Without Social Security card information, people may be sent away, she said. “There is a lot of identity theft out there so we are being extra careful. Plus, sometimes the name on the interview sheet is ‘Jimmy,’ and they forget to tell us it should be ‘James’ on the paperwork.”

She added that, because of the risk of identity theft, it’s advisable for everyone to file a return, including taxpayers who do not have a filing requirement and don’t usually file.

With the exception of a January 30 “Super Saturday” event at the NE Muldoon Community Center in Anchorage, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., all Tax-Aide sites will 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 5 p.m. Thai speaker available.

First Free Methodist Church, 4607 East 6th Ave. Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. Spanish interpreter available by phone.

Spenard Rec Center, 2020 West 48th Ave. Tuesdays, 1 to 4 p.m.

Crosspoint Community Church, 1920 West Dimond (next to JoAnn Fabrics). Fridays, 1 to 4 p.m. and Sat., April 2, 10 a.m. to 2 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. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and April 18, noon to 9 p.m.

Chugiak/Eagle River

Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center, 22424 N. Birchwood Loop Road. Wednesdays, noon to 4 p.m .; Saturday, Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27, 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. 15 and March 28.

Mat-Su Evangelical Church, 5201 East Mayflower Lane (located about Mile 7 Palmer-Wasilla Highway). Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 746-6113 for appointment; walk-ins also welcome. Closed March 26

Mat-Su Senior Services (Palmer), 1132 S. Chugach. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 745-5454 for appointment; walk-ins also welcome.

Houston City Hall, 13878 W. Armstrong Rd. Tuesdays, Feb. 2, 23, March 15, 29 and April 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins accommodated if possible, call 746-6113 for appointments.

Trapper Creek Community Center, Near Mile 115.4 Parks Hwy. Tuesdays, Feb. 9 and March 1 only, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins is possible, call for appointment, 746-6113

Upper Su Senior Center, 16463 E. Helena, Sunshine-Talkeetna. Tuesdays, Feb. 16, March 8, 22 and April 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins if possible, call for appointment, 746-6113

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. By appointment only; call 452-1735.

University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bunnell 319 (The Nook). Saturdays, Feb. 27, March 5, 26 and April 2 and 9, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Valdez

Valdez Consortium Library, 260 Fairbanks. Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m. By appointment only; call 835-5914. Spanish interpreter available with advance notice.

Kenai Peninsula

Homer United Methodist, 770 E. End Rd. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kenaitze Indian Tribe (Kenai), 150 North Willow St. By appointment only, 335-7622. Must be eligible to receive services from Kenaitze Indian Tribe.

Ninilchik Senior Center, 66265 Aspen Ave. Feb. 20 only, 1 to 5 p.m. 567-3988

Resurrection Lutheran Church (Seward), 400 Third Ave. Mondays, 2 to 6 p.m .; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Soldotna Library, 235 N. Binkley. Thursdays, 1 to 5 p.m .; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 13, March 12 and April 9. Walk-ins accommodated when possible; call for appointment or information, 262-4227.

Southeast

Angoon City Office, 700 Aandeinaatt St., Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 18-19, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m .; Friday, Feb. 20, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority (Juneau), 5446 Jenkins Dr. Tuesdays, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m .; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 6, March 5 and April 9. Open all needing help with basic tax return.

Juneau Senior Center, 895 West 12th Street. By appointment; call 463-6175

Juneau Library, new Valley Branch at 3025 Diamond Park Loop. No appointment necessary.

Gruening Park Recreation Hall (Juneau), AHDC Office, 1800 Northwood Dr. No appointment necessary

Ketchikan Public Library, 1110 Copper Ridge Lane. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointment necessary; walk-ins welcome.

Organized Village of Kake Conference Room, Wed. and Thursday, Feb. 25 and 26, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m .; Friday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Klawock Senior Center Reading Room, 465 Summit St. Wednesdays, 3 to 6 p.m. Feb. 25, March 25, April 1 and 8; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 5 and 6 only

Metlakatla Tongass Federal Credit Union. Appointment only. 886-5975

(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 (Sitka), 402 Lake Street. Wednesdays, noon to 4:30 p.m. By appointment only; call Anna or Jane at 747-8617.

(Saxman) Shaan Hidi Senior Housing, 2401 Eagle Ave., Sunday and Monday, March 8 and 9 only, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

(Wrangell) Nolan Center, 1096 Outer Drive. Saturdays, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. No appointment necessary; walk-ins welcome.

What to bring with you

As a taxpayer, you should 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

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.