By Marv Balousek

An army of 180 tax aide volunteers will be available from Feb. 3 through April 15 to help area residents file their 2013 tax returns.

“What we do is provide tax preparation and counseling for practically anyone,” said Roy Wittich, training co-coordinator for the annual program sponsored by the AARP Foundation.

The 45-year-old tax aide program has operated in The Villages for more than 20 years. New tax aides receive 60 hours of training while returning tax aides receive 16 hours of refresher training. Wittich said the training is divided into three segments that include standards of conduct, tax law, and the computerized filing process.

The tax aides helped complete 8,000 returns last year and assisted another 2,000 people with tax questions.

He said aides are required, for example, to understand how to maintain the integrity of the process, how a dependent is defined and how to e-file a return. The volunteers, who must pass two exams, include 140 tax counselors and 40 client facilitators who help schedule appointments and make sure required documents are available.

Although the tax aides are capable of helping with typical returns, area coordinator Jerry Hanson said they do not handle business income, rental income or corporate returns. They also do not handle the returns of high-income individuals affected by new taxes this year under the Affordable Care Act.

The tax aides also are not available to help with audits, but the program maintains a smaller group of volunteers over the summer to help taxpayers deal with queries and letters from the Internal Revenue Service. Some problems that arise later can be solved by filing amended returns, Wittich said.

Locations for tax aide counseling, hours and how to make appointments are:

  • Colony Cottage Recreation Center, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, make appointments at the recreation desk until Feb. 3, afterward at the AARP tax counseling area.
  • Lady Lake Library, 225 W. Guava St., 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday beginning Feb. 4, make appointments at the library front desk.
  • Fruitland Park Library, 205 W. Berckman St., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday beginning Feb. 6, make appointments by calling 352-360-6561.
  • Paradise Recreation Center, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday beginning Feb. 3, make appointments at recreation desk.
  • La Hacienda Recreation Center, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday beginning Feb. 4, make appointments at recreation desk.
  • Wildwood Community Center, 6500 Highway 139, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday beginning Feb. 3, make appointments on site.
  • Bushnell Public Library, 404 N. Florida St., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday beginning Feb. 5, make appointments on site.
  • Steeplechase Restaurant, 12029 Highway 103, Oxford, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday beginning Feb. 7, make appointments on site.
  • Mulberry Grove Recreation Center, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday beginning Feb. 3, make appointments at recreation desk.
  • Tax Aide

     

  • Tax aide volunteers are gearing up to lend a hand with tax preparation.