Last-minute help before filing taxes across Peninsula
Published 12:01 am Thursday, April 12, 2012
The federal income tax return deadline has been extended to next Tuesday, and AARP Tax-Aide volunteers will offer last-minute return preparation in Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend, Chimacum and Forks.
Federal tax returns are due Tuesday, April 17, rather than the usual April 15 deadline, which is on a Sunday, or the following Monday, which is a holiday in Washington, D.C.
Emancipation Day, celebrated annually April 16 in the nation’s capitol, marks the anniversary of the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act.
The Tax-Aide service is free and is available for low- and middle-income taxpayers of all ages.
Volunteers are IRS-certified to prepare most basic tax returns, making sure the taxpayer receives all eligible deductions and credits, and can file electronically.
They do not prepare returns for taxpayers who have income from rental properties or with complicated business returns.
Bring all necessary tax documents and a copy of last year’s return.
Port Angeles
AARP Tax-Aide volunteers will offer services Saturday, Monday and Tuesday in Port Angeles.
Volunteers will be at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St., from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday.
They will be at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday.
Phone 360-457-7004 for an appointment at the senior center.
No appointment is necessary for the Port Angeles Library.
Sequim
Volunteers will be at the Sequim Senior Center, 921 E. Hammond St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Appointments are necessary.
Phone 360-683-6806 for an appointment.
Port Townsend
Volunteers will be available by appointment between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Tuesday at the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St.
For an appointment, phone 360-385-9007.
Chimacum
Volunteers will be in Chimacum on Monday.
Sessions are by appointment between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road.
For an appointment, phone 360-732-4822.
Forks
The West End Tax-Aide organization is offering income tax preparation at Forks City Hall, 500 E. Division St., on Saturday.
Sessions will be between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
For an appointment, phone 360-374-2558.
The volunteers may be able to handle walk-ins.
“We’re sending lots of volunteers to Forks on Saturday,” said Carol Volk, a Tax-Aide organizer.
“So we should be able to take care of everyone.”
Taxpayers who are unable to file for their return by the Tuesday deadline may benefit by filing new IRS form 1127-A.
This form provides a six-month extension for certain taxpayers.
Taxpayers are considered eligible for this extension if they have been unemployed for at least 30 consecutive days in 2011 or 2012, or are self-employed and have suffered a 25 percent drop in business income in 2011 due to the economic downturn.
