Wednesday appointments for Tax-Aide now booked

The Wednesday appointments for the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program at the Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Ave., are booked for the rest of the tax season, according to a news release.

The program, sponsored by AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and the Internal Revenue Service, provides free confidential income tax preparation, counseling services and e-filing for both federal and state returns through April 14.

All returns are prepared by trained IRS-certified AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers based on the 2022 tax law.

This service is available to everyone regardless of age or income; AARP membership is not required.

Through Feb. 17, Tax-Aide will be walk-in only from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. weekdays. Beginning Feb. 21, the hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

“Everyone must wear a paper mask in and around the tax prep area and around Tax-Aide volunteers, no exceptions,” the release said.

“We will be spraying your hands with alcohol and sanitizing the chairs and tables between each taxpayer(s).”

No children are allowed in the tax preparation area.

“Please be mindful of those in our community who can least afford to pay for a tax return and consider going to a paid preparer if you can afford to do so,” the release said.

When visiting an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, bring the following:

• A photo ID of the tax filer and spouse, if filing a joint return.

• Original Social Security card (or original Social Security statement) for everyone listed on the tax return.

• Income-related documents: 1099s, W-2s, SS statements, interest statements, dividend statements, brokerage statements (all pages), gambling statements, income such as self-employment, and any other information related to income.

• Expense-related documents: taxes paid, mortgage interest, property taxes, medical, charity, tuition statements, child care statements, business expenses if self-employed, and any other information related to expenses.

• 1095-A, if tax filer has Marketplace health coverage.

• 2021 tax return envelope.

• For direct deposit of refunds, a check or documentation of bank routing and account number printed by the banking institution; no handwritten routing/account numbers.

• Personal ink pen. AARP volunteers will begin preparing returns that have a 1099B (the sale of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds) after March 15, as brokerage statements are not required to be in the mail until mid-March.

AARP volunteers will not prepare income tax returns from any state besides Arkansas.

Tax filers must be full-year residents of Arkansas. Volunteers will not prepare part-year tax returns due to software limitations.