Free tax help starts tomorrow

* This article has been corrected since its original publication. The phone number to call for information is 1-888-227-7669 (AARP NOW)

Starting Wednesday, the AARP will offer free tax preparation services for Nevadans of all ages.

While the focus of the Tax Aide program is for people 60 and older, volunteer Gil Yanuck said the free program is designed to help anyone with low to moderate incomes who file schedules E-Z, A and B.

"The whole thing is free," Yanuck said. "That's the idea behind this."

Those who want to participate should schedule an appointment by calling 1-888-AARP-NOW (227-7669).

In Carson City, the program starts tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. inside the Carson City Senior Center, 911 Beverly Dr. It will continue every Monday and Wednesday through April 13.

Other locations include Friends In Service Helping, 138 E. Long St., and other locations in Dayton, Minden-Gardnerville, Fallon, Reno and Topaz. To find a site nearby call 1-866-AARP-NOW.

Appointments are required, but AARP membership is not.

Yanuck said the IRS works with Tax Aide volunteers to certify them. Those volunteers are re-certified every year and tax returns are double-checked before they are submitted.

Yanuck said participants should bring their tax returns from last year.

Other documents to bring include all W-2s from employers; any 1099 statements from banks; pension plans or brokerage firms; W-2Gs from gambling winnings; home mortgage interest statements; paid property tax bills; medical expenses; education expenses; child or dependent care expenses; receipts for charitable contributions of cash, check, credit card or other than cash; and any other items or information necessary to support income or expenses such as alimony paid or received.

Yanuck said about 900 people in the region used the program last year.

"If money is tight, I don't understand why we don't see more people," he said.

More tax help is available at aarp.org/taxaide.