February 5, 2009

Help with your taxes
Area accountants are ready with free (or cheap) assistance
By Jeff Mucciarone jmucciarone@hippopress.com

Though likely to be without personal stimulus checks this year, people still must file their taxes all the same. People aren’t in it alone, though. Along with places that will be happy to take people’s money to properly file taxes, there are other free or at least cheaper options providing assistance.

Southern New Hampshire University’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provides the community with a free resource, while also providing student volunteers with practical experience.

Each year, students sign up to offer their services. First, students go through an online IRS training to be certified and then they can start tackling the W-2s. The program started Tuesday, Jan. 26, when students filed six returns, said Robyn Curdie, student supervisor. The program ends April 4 and is open to the elderly, people who have low income and non-English-speaking taxpayers.

“It actually really helps me,” Curdie said. “I’ll be doing corporate taxes when I graduate. It’s nice to get into. They can get actual experience and they’re working with the public.”

Students don’t handle the more complicated documents, but the service is open to people filing basic tax returns. If people come in who need further assistance, volunteers point them in the right direction — “If someone has a whole bunch of sales of stock, we try to figure that out before doing their return,” Curdie said.

“It does help with working with people,” Curdie said. “You actually have to be able to talk to and get information from people. In the real world you’re probably not going to just sit at your desk and do work. You’ll actually have to deal with people.”

The program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. It is closed from March 23 to 27. All sessions are at the Manchester campus; weekday sessions take place in Webster Hall Room 107, and Saturday sessions take place in Webster Hall Room 111. Volunteers will not prepare Schedule C, Schedule D and Schedule E. Visit acadweb.snhu.edu/vita. Call 668-2211 ext. 2017. Bring social security cards for taxpayer, spouse and dependents, a picture ID for taxpayer and spouse, all W2s, any 1099 forms and any other pertinent forms or paperwork for the return.

Southern New Hampshire University isn’t the only institution with a program helping taxpayers.

The Greater Nashua Asset Building Coalition is offering free tax preparation at four locations. Its program started this past weekend and will continue into April. Volunteers trained by the IRS and AARP will assist filers with 2008 federal income tax returns and help determine whether they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. The Coalition estimated more than $2 million of the Earned Income Tax Credit is not claimed in the Nashua area because people are unaware they qualify, a Coalition press release said. No appointment is needed. The service runs every Saturday through March 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Triangle Credit Union, 33 Franklin St. in Nashua. The service will be available Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 2 through April 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St., Nashua. Milford-area residents can have tax returns prepared Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Feb. 3 through April 9, at the Wadleigh Public Library, 49 Nashua St., Milford. A new tax preparation site is being opened at the YMCA in Merrimack, 6 Henry Clay Drive, for Fridays, Feb. 6 through April 10, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Contact Ray Peterson at 882-4011 ext. 14 or e-mail him at ray@unitedwaynashua.org.

There are several AARP-sponsored tax preparation sites: Prime Time (195 McGregor St, Manchester, 663-6333, Thursdays 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and Fridays 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Call for appointment.); Salvation Army (121 Cedar St., Manchester, 627-7013, Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.); Elliot Senior Health Center (138 Webster St., Manchester, 663-4567, Mondays 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call for appointment.); VA Medical Center (781 Smyth Road, Manchester, 624-4366 ext. 6422, Tuesdays and Fridays 1 to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays noon to 3 p.m. Call for appointment.); John O’Leary Adult Community Center (5 Church St., Merrimack, 424-6306, Wednesdays 9 to 11:30 a.m.); Smyth Public Library (55 High St., Candia, 483-8245, Mondays 4 to 7 p.m. and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call for appointment.); Marion Gerrish Community Center (39 West Broadway, Derry, 626-6212, Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.); Hudson Community Center (12 Lions Ave., Hudson, 889-1803, Wednesdays 1 to 4 p.m., Walk-ins or appointments.); Nashua Senior Center (70 Temple St., Nashua, 889-6155, Thursdays 9 a.m. to noon.); AARP Information Center (118 North Main St., Concord, 224-6095, Monday to Thursday, noon to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call for appointment.); Merrimack County Savings Bank (1 Integra Drive, Concord, 226-0327, Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon. Call for appointment.); Merrimack County Savings Bank (503 South St., Bow, 224-6095, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon. Call for appointment.); Hopkinton Town Library (61 Houston Drive, Contoocook, 746-3663, Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call for appointment.).

To locate tax preparation sites in New Hampshire, call 211.  Additional information is available in English and Spanish at www.unitedwaynashua.org.