By Staff
From staff reports
NILES – Local senior citizens can have their state and federal taxes prepared for free at the Senior Citizens Center of Niles, 1109 Bell Road.
The tax counseling and preparation assistance is offered through the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Tax-Aide service and is available by appointment only by calling (269) 683-9380. Two volunteers will be on site at the Senior Center every Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon starting Feb. 6 through the April 15 tax deadline.
"We [prepare taxes for] people that are 60 and older that live in the Niles area," said Kathy Ender, director of the Senior Center.
Ender said the two volunteers, who are trained for tax preparation in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service, can also help seniors file for tax credits and refunds, such as the Home Heating Credit, Homestead Property Tax Credit, the Telephone Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Many seniors only file for tax credits, Ender said, and the volunteers can address individual tax situations.
"Many Michigan residents are unaware of the possible credits that are extended even to those residents who do not owe taxes," Carl Strom, Tax-Aide state coordinator, stated in a press release. "The Michigan Homestead Credit and the Michigan Home Heating Credit forms can be completed even if no state income tax is owed. Additionally, millions of dollars in credits go unclaimed in Michigan when qualified residents fail to claim the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit."
Ender said seniors calling the Senior Center now for free tax preparation services would be able to set an appointment for the end of February.
More information about Tax-Aide and locations of Tax-Aide sites in Michigan is available by calling toll free (888) AARP-NOW, or by visiting the AARP Web site at www.aarp.org/taxaide. A list of sites by county is also available through the Michigan AARP office at (866) 227-7448; by emailing miaarp@aarp.org; through the Michigan Department of Treasury; and the Web site for the Michigan State University Extension Service www. msue.msu.edu/portal/.
Last year, more than 932 Tax-Aide volunteers filed more than 59,966 federal and state tax returns at 218 sites across Michigan, including senior centers and libraries. The Tax-Aide service may also be available for homebound individuals when possible.