The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
SENIOR TAX HELP
Oneida Public Library: Volunteers available Mondays and Wednesdays to assist in filing taxes
ONEIDA, N.Y. » With tax season at hand, the Oneida Public Library is offering help to those who need it.
The library’s parking lot and surrounding streets were packed Monday morning as more than a dozen locals took advantage of the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program at the library. The program is being offered through April 16, the day before taxes are due.
Sponsored by the IRS and with guidance from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madi- son County, participants in the program filed 273 federal returns and 260 New York state returns in 2017, generating a total of $203,095 in federal returns and $21,834 in state returns, said Library Assistant Director Tom Murray.
Craig and Jane Garlock, of Oneida, were among those taking advantage of the tax help being offered. Craig said he worked part time at the Turning Stone Casino and wasn’t getting anything back on his tax returns.
“It would cost me around $100 to get my taxes taken care of. Here, it’s free,” Craig said.
“I think what they’ve got here is a good program for seniors. The cost of living is so high and people can’t afford to go to other tax places because they charge so much,” Jane said. “These people helping with taxes, they’re taking time out to come here and I appreciate that. It’s great that they do this.”
Volunteer helpers are certified by the IRS in January and tend to be experts in numbers, Murray said.
Among the volunteers wasWard 1 Councilor Alan Cohen, who has been helping file taxes at the library for three years. Being re- tired, Cohen said this is just one of the things he does that gets him out of the house and active in the community.
“I get to help people keep as much money as they can,” Cohen said. “It’s nice to give back to the community and help people who really need it.”
Sybil Foster, of Oneida, said she’s over 65 and has been coming to the library for five years to get her taxes done. For her, it’s convenient, free and gives her peace of mind around tax season.
“They do a good job, they’re polite and well informed,” Foster said. “I can’t do my taxes myself, it’s too confusing and I don’t think it would be as accurate. Everything is done on the computer and I’m illiterate when it comes to the technical stuff. I feel much less concerned and safer when it’s done here.”
It was good this year for Foster when Cohen told her she was getting more back on her tax return than last year.
Craig, Jane and Foster all agreed that when it came to future tax years, they plan on using the library to take care of their filing.
Foster said she was surprised when she learned the library was offering two days in the week for tax help and said she couldn’t ask for better than that.
“They’re really trying to accommodate people here,” Foster said.