AARP Tax-Aide will offer free tax preparation services to Whatcom County residents Jan. 26 through April 15.
Tax assistance will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. Service is not available Feb. 18 because of the Presidents' Day holiday.
Assistance also will be available 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays starting Feb. 8 next door to the Goodwill Store at Sunset Square at 1115 Sunset Drive.
Tax services also will be available by appointment at the Bellingham, Ferndale and Blaine senior centers and at the Lynden and Ferndale libraries beginning in February. Sign-up lists are posted at the appointment sites.
Spanish interpretation services will be available at the Bellingham Library on Saturdays until at least Feb. 16.
People with rental property, complicated capital gains, business returns with more than $5,000 in expenses or otherwise complicated returns are not eligible for this service. Volunteers at the various sites will confirm eligibility.
Those interested should bring all W-2 and 1099 forms, government-issued proof of their Social Security number and the Social Security numbers of all dependents, photo ID and, if possible, last year's tax return. Due to late action by Congress, returns with Residential Energy credits will not be able to be processed until sometime in early March.
