PORT TOWNSEND — Tax-Aide, an AARP Foundation service that files taxes for free, is back on the North Olympic Peninsula to help out this tax season.
However, this year, volunteers are asking people to use forbearance as they work with a new computer system.
“We have new software, so that’s been a challenge,” said Ron Ryan, the coordinator for Jefferson County. “We’re asking people to have patience.”
According to David Self, one of the volunteers in Jefferson County, Wednesday was the first day with the new software, and it didn’t go as well as planned.
“The system went down today,” said Self on Wednesday. “We only did about four to seven files. Usually, we can get 18 to 20 done in a day.”
Clallam County had the same problem. The server system provided by the IRS crashed before noon Wednesday.
“The system just got a little overwhelmed,” said Carol Volk, the communications coordinator for Tax-Aide.
Ryan said volunteers were able to get the system back up and running again and are confident today’s appointments will run smoothly.
“People did come with a lot of patience today,” said Ryan on Wednesday. “People were really kind to us.”
Tax-Aide is funded by AARP — formerly the American Association of Retired Persons — and is certified by the IRS. It is run mostly by volunteers from the community.
According to Volk, many of the volunteers are current or retired tax professionals, but they’ve also had everyone from teachers to veterinarians volunteer their time.
“What they all have in common is a willingness to put themselves through a lot of work to help taxpayers get through the tax season,” Volk said.
The service is undoubtedly popular, with more than 700 people in Jefferson County and just under 3,300 people in Clallam County participating in the program last year.
“It’s just a real useful and real popular service,” Volk said.
Part of its popularity is the service is completely free.
“We can’t even take donations,” Ryan said.
The program is targeted at retirees but is available to anyone.
“We really get a cross-section,” Ryan said. “We get retired people, young people, couples, since we can do just about any return.
“We prepare the return and send it; they have to do nothing. It’s a pretty sweet deal for them.”
Volunteers, who have passed IRS tests to be qualified, will work at locations across Clallam and Jefferson counties until April 18, which is the last day to file taxes in 2017. The usual tax filing deadline of April 15 will be on a Saturday and the Washington D.C. Emancipation Day holiday will be observed on April 17, bumping the filing deadline to April 18.
Three locations for Tax-Aide preparation are set up in Jefferson County:
• Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St. — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Appointments are necessary. Call 360-385-9007.
• Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, Chimacum — 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays. Appointments are necessary. Call 360-732-4822.
• Quilcene Community Center, 294951 U.S. Highway 101 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 25, March 16 and April 8. Appointments are necessary. Call 360-765-3321.
Four locations are in Clallam County:
• Shipley Center, 921 E. Hammond St., Sequim — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Appointments are needed. Call 360-683-6806.
• Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St. — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Appointments are not required.
• Port Angeles Senior & Community Center, 328 E. Seventh St. — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays. Appointments are needed. Call 360-457-7004.
• Forks City Hall, 500 E. Division St. — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday and Feb. 18, March 4 and 18, and April 1 and 15. Appointments are not required.
To have taxes filed, bring photo identification, Social Security cards, W-2s, 1099s, 1095s (health insurance) and any other relevant tax forms.
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Jefferson County Editor/
