Tax help available from variety of sources
By J.D. Walker
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
ASHEBORO - The yearly battle to do federal taxes is gearing up again.
In 2005, there are some options for those in need of help. Beginning
on Jan. 8, volunteers from AARP began offering tax assistance at the Senior
Adults Center, 133 W. Wainman Ave., in Asheboro.
Area residents are invited to bring their receipts on each Saturday right
up until April 9, the Saturday before April 15, and a volunteer will help
fill out the proper tax forms.
That assistance will be expanded beginning this Monday to include Mondays
from now until April 11. Assistance will be available from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
This service is free, said officials at the Senior Adults Center, and
open to all regardless of age.
In Archdale, taxpayers can get help on Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon-4
p.m., at the Archdale Senior Adults Center, 108 Park Drive. This is an appointment-only
service. Call 431-1938 for more information.
For the brave at heart, the IRS is offering free e-filing through its
website, <www.irs.gov>.
The government expects half of the nation's taxpayers to file their tax
returns electronically. Free File - the free tax-service partnership and
an
important component of IRS e-file - opens its third year with free service
offerings to more taxpayers than ever who have access to a computer and
the Internet.
"Last year, half of the 3.6 million returns filed in North Carolina
were filed electronically," said IRS spokesperson Valerie Thornton.
"This year, we expect that number to increase."
The system is described as "fast, accurate, secure and easy to use.
Plus taxpayers can receive their refunds in half the time.
The IRS expects half of the 133 million taxpayers will file their returns
electronically. The program opened nationwide in 1990 and 4.1 million returns
were electronically filed, usually at a fee.
Since 2003, taxpayers have been able to access free tax software and
free e-filing through the IRS website in a program called Free File.
For 2005, any taxpayer with access to a computer and the Internet will
qualify for Free File. Each company sets its own criteria for free usage.
The criteria varies but often is based on income, state residency and age.
Some have no restrictions for participation.
In the past, taxpayers (or their accountants) prepared their taxes with
an electronic program but then printed the form out and mailed it in. This
year, the government is urging everyone to discover the ease and convenience
of electronic filing at <IRS.gov>.
There are several other places to get help filing taxes the old-fashioned
way.
In Moore County, those include:
* Carthage Centura Bank, 402 Monroe St., Carthage, Feb. 1-April 15, Mondays
and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. By appointment only. Call (910) 295-2244.
* Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills, 160 Memorial Park Court, Southern
Pines, Feb. 1-April 15, Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. By appointment
only. Call (910) 692-0777.
* Southern Pines Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines, Feb.
1-April 15, Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m-2 p.m. By appointment only. Call
(910) 692-4307.
* First Bank West End, 4295 N.C. 211 N., Feb. 1-April 15, Fridays, 9
a.m.-12:30 p.m.
***
Information provided by the Greensboro office of the IRS. At press time,
there were no tax help sessions sponsored by volunteer groups scheduled
in Montgomery County.
Copyright 2002, Stephens Media Group
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