Thanks to mission, church, retirees’ tax returns filed

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, which is focused on the tax needs of low- and middleincome taxpayers, was able to assist taxpayers with preparing and filing their tax returns in 2022 after abruptly closing in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In prior years, we were able to provide our services utilizing county facilities in Spreckelsville, Kihei and Lahaina as well as Kahului Union Church. When we began exploring the reopening of our services, all county facilities remained closed, and Kahului Union Church was unavailable.

Kahului Jodo Mission and Kihei Lutheran Church thankfully stepped in and offered the use of their facilities throughout the tax season.

The other big changes we faced included no longer taking walk-in clients, and not being able to sit and talk with our clients while preparing their taxes. Instead, taxpayers were asked to make an appointment then pick up and complete a packet of documents before coming in at their appointed date and time.

At that time, they dropped off their completed packets and tax forms, then waited for their returns to be completed. Kaunoa Senior Center stepped in and assisted us by taking appointments for both sites as well as Xeroxing and compiling the taxpayers’ packets.

We thank Kahului Jodo Mission, Kihei Lutheran Church and Kaunoa Senior Centers for their generosity and willingness to help. With their help, federal and state returns for 61 clients at the Kihei site and 184 clients at the Kahului site were filed.

Mahalo also to Kahului Union Church for hosting us over 30 years.

Hana Kraker

Kula

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