Got ‘free’ people?

Fees resulting from having your tax return prepared by a professional service are claimable on your federal tax return.

But there’s a group of people who might not be able to afford to have their taxes done by professionals in the first place: people who struggle financially in the middle or lower income brackets and seniors who live on low, fixed incomes.

Still, there is a place to go for help — the Waynesboro Senior Center.

The American Association of Retired Persons and the Internal Revenue Service have a program, the AARP Tax-Aide Program, to provide free prepared tax returns for those who cannot afford them.

In Waynesboro, the program has been going on yearly since 1989, and nationally it has existed for 41 years.

Richard Eller was the man who began the program locally and ran it for 10 years.

In the Shenandoah Valley program centers exist in Nelson, Rockbridge, Rockingham and Augusta counties, and in the cities of Lexington, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, Staunton and Lovingston. In 2008, about 2,500 people had their 2007 taxes prepared in those areas. More than 600 had their returns completed in Waynesboro alone.

The all-volunteer program runs in several districts throughout Virginia with about one-third of its funding coming from the AARP Foundation and the balance provided by the IRS. Even the laptops used by the staff come from the program’s sponsors.

Frances and Carl Durrett, of Afton, have been clients of the free tax program for nearly 10 years. Both retired now, they find the program to their liking.

“The people are nice and it’s very convenient,” Frances said. “They’re friendly. And of course, they’re free.”

Her husband sees another benefit to coming into Waynesboro to have his returns done by the group.

“You get to meet a lot of people you haven’t seen for a while,” Carl said.

The Durretts say that in all their years of participation, they have never experienced any mistakes made by their preparers.

The group has quality control measures to ensure that errors are kept to a minimum.

Patricia Tuttle has been a client counselor for three years in Waynesboro. Prior to that she was a client facilitator for two years.

“Another counselor always reviews the returns to double check them,” Tuttle said of the program’s efforts to provide error-free services.

“And there’s no age limit or income limit,” she says. “Though the program is emphasized for people 60 and older, and middle to lower incomes.

“We can even do mom-and-pop businesses, under $5,000 in gross receipts,” Tuttle said.

Other stipulations also apply. The program is not available for those who own rental property, have farm income or must file a Schedule C IRS form.

Anna Monroe started having the AARP group do her taxes after her husband died. Previously, Monroe’s husband took care of their returns.

“Somewhere between 1997 and 2000,” she said. “I saw it in the paper. I come here because I’m on a fixed income and don’t have to pay.”

Bud Buehler reiterates that the group will prepare returns for most people.

“All strata of financial levels come in to have us help them,” said the second-year program volunteer, who found out about Tax-Aide from Eller. “I was working as a volunteer at the tourist center and when Dick Eller called, I said yes.

“It’s amazing how many are desperately in need of help [with their taxes]. Lots of people who visit the [Augusta] Free Clinic, where I also volunteer, need their returns for their clinic paperwork. I mean, retirees are supposed to have more time on their hands, right?”

In considering the possibility of being swamped with new clients, Buehler said, “We’d love to get swamped!”

Eller, who runs only the Waynesboro portion of the program, says that all his volunteers are trained and tested to ensure that returns are done correctly and to IRS specifications.

“All new and returning counselors are trained and refreshed as to the new rules,” Eller said. “And all of them must pass an annual test issued by the IRS.”
One rule the program must follow: Every return processed must be e-filed.

“We had to turn a couple of people away last year who didn’t want to e-file, but it’s required,” Eller said. “People should know, they don’t have to touch the computer.

“We do that for them.”