Doing taxes are about as fun as root canals, and paying for someone to help can make the sting even worse. The folks at the Calhoun County Retired Volunteer Program (RSVP) began offering free tax assistance last Tuesday at the Piedmont United Methodist Church. You’ll find volunteers at the church each Tuesday from 9a.m. to 3p.m. through April 15.

The volunteer tax-preparers are ready to help, free of charge, with basic tax returns. And the service is open to anyone, regardless of age or income. In addition to tax return preparation assistance, they offer electronic filing or E-Filing, which, according to RSVP, can cut the refund wait-time in half.

Diane Turner, Volunteer Coordinator for the Calhoun County RSVP, said that the volunteers are required to go through the same training as the tax preparers at IRS. “They have to make eighty percent or better to become a tax preparer,” said Turner. “It’s not just a bunch of volunteers that pop up and say ‘I want to do taxes.’”

They also stand behind the work they do. “If something comes back and there is a problem, we will work with it until it’s resolved,” said turner.

When the program first began they concentrated helping seniors and the disabled, but now the service is open to anyone who’d like to use it, with the exception of businesses.

Bob Anaker is the site coordinator for the Piedmont location. He’ll be making sure everything goes well and if a problem comes up, he’ll be there to make sure it’s resolved.

Items taxpayers need to bring to the TCE Sites to have their tax returns prepared:

• Must bring photo identification

• Social Security Cards for the Taxpayer, their spouse and dependents, if applicable

• Birth Dates for primary, secondary and dependents on the tax return

• Current year’s tax package if they received one

• Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers

• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)

• A copy of last year’s Federal and State returns if available

• Bank Routing Numbers and Account Numbers for Direct Deposit

• Other relevant information about income and expenses

• Total Amount Paid for Day Care

•Day Care providers Identifying number

• To file taxes electronically on a married filing joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

If you need more information you can call the Calhoun County RSVP at 256-435-5091.