Taxes made easy — and free — for seniors

Goshen — Seniors throughout the country are eligible to receive free, simple tax preparation with no income requirements. Anne Coon, district coordinator for the Tax Aide Program through the Orange County Office for the Aging, said people 60 and older may have their income tax prepared for free, as long as it is a simple situation. “There cannot be a lot of stock trading, rental properties or business expenses,” Coon said. The program, which has been in existence for more than 30 years, is co-sponsored by AARP and the IRS. Volunteers are trained by an IRS-certified instructor before they can actually prepare the returns, according to Coon. “The training is very stringent,” said Coon. “The training takes place in January and all must pass an IRS exam, which sometimes takes up to 30 hours or more to do.” Many of the volunteers are current or former professionals — bankers, teachers, even accountants — who volunteer their time to help seniors. The volunteers must train and be tested every year since tax law changes from year to year. “Especially for our tax professionals, this is a big sacrifice for them during tax time,” Coon added. In Orange County alone, the Tax Aide program helped more than 2,000 seniors last year. Coon stresses this program is for those who will file simple returns. “If you have a simple situation, seniors shouldn’t have to spend money on having their taxes prepared,” Coon said. “If it is a complicated return, they should have a paid preparer.” And, while many seniors may no longer have to file income tax returns, in order to get their STAR benefit for school taxes, they actually do. And with costs always rising, especially energy costs, saving even just $100 or so can go a long way. Everything is confidential. Coon said her office keeps no files. And the program is nationwide. People do not have to be from Orange County or New York to have their taxes done here. And the program will stand behind any errors. Coon said the error rate is very low. “We have a very good record,” she said. “But if there are problems later, if it is our error, we will stand behind it.” Coon said this program has quick access to the IRS and New York State Taxation if there are any issues. “We have resources beyond the average taxpayer,” she said. Appointments are necessary Tax volunteers are situated throughout the county. • In Warwick, for example, the tax preparers are at the Warwick Reformed Church on Thursdays. Those wishing to have their taxes prepared there must call 988-9517 to arrange for an appointment. • In Chester, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is the site. Call 469-3171 to arrange for an appointment there. • In Monroe, call 783-9486 to set up an appointment at the Monroe Senior Center. • In Goshen, call 294-1106 to see someone at the Northgate Manor site. E-filing is available at the Chester and Monroe locations. If the days at your local site are not convenient or if appointments are not available, there are sites throughout the county, including Cornwall, Hamptonburgh, Highland Falls, Middletown, Montgomery, Newburgh, New Windsor, Pine Bush, Port Jervis and Washingtonville. For more information, call Coon at 615-3705. “These volunteers are extremely well-trained. Our program is well-monitored. And it’s an old and proven program,” said Coon. “Seniors should take advantage of it.”