American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) tax aide will be offered at the Bluffton Senior Citizen’s Center on Thursdays starting at 9 a.m. Feb. 6 through April 3, according to Tonya Meyer, center director.

AARP volunteers specialize in helping taxpayers with low and moderate-income, with special attention to those aged 60 and older. This service is free but an appointment is required and may be made by calling 419-358-8971 or stop by the Bluffton Senior Center.

Walk-ins will not be accepted. Please bring the following with you when you come for your appointment:
• current year’s tax forms,
• copy of last year’s income tax returns, 
• W-2 forms from each employer,
• unemployment compensation statements,
• SSA-1099 form if you were paid Social Security benefits,
• all 1099 forms,
• all forms indicating federal income tax paid, and
• Social Security cards or other official documentation for yourself and all dependents.

Because of tax fraud and identity theft you must bring a Photo ID and your Social Security Card or the volunteers cannot help you with your taxes.

If you are itemizing, please have all items added up, as the volunteers do not have time to do this for you. The volunteers are not trained to do schedule C, complicated/lengthy schedule D, or schedule E (rental property, royalties, partnerships, and trusts that involve depreciation) so those cases could be turned away.

Because of new regulations by the IRS, the volunteers will not be able to assist as many people as they have in the past, so please sign up early.