by nathan oster
As the April 15 income tax deadline approaches, the volunteers who run the Tax-Aide program out of the South Big Horn Senior Center continue to accept appointments from people who require help with their taxes.
Elinor Cruze, Richard Lechner and Helen Saban have been holding Wednesday officer hours at the center since early February. While the Tax-Aide program is intended for “seniors and low-income,” most people in Big Horn County qualify based on their incomes, Cruze said.
The Tax-Aide program will continue through April 15 and workers are available to help on basic returns. They don’t tackle complicated returns, like those for farms that involve depreciation or small businesses. Cruze noted that she and her colleagues can provide help on the simpler forms.
To this point, the service has been underutilized.
“I bet we haven’t had 25 all together,” said Cruze. “We’re concerned, because if we don’t have enough participation, we will be in danger of losing the program … because the AARP won’t authorize us to do it next year.”
While the goal of serving 75 appears out of reach, Cruze said she’d love to fill the remaining tax sessions. To make an appointment, call or visit the senior center and ask to speak with the receptionist.
As the tax season winds down, Cruze reminds local residents that they do not need to file a tax return to receive the one-time payment of $250 that will be made in 2009. Those payments will go to retirees, disabled individuals, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who receive benefits from the Social Security Administration; disabled veterans who receive benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and railroad retirement beneficiaries.
Federal and state retirees who do not receive Social Security benefits also will qualify to receive the payment but they may have to file 2009 tax returns to receive it. For more information, see ssa.gov/payment.
Finally Cruze issued a warning about scams, reminding local residents that the IRS  does not send unsolicited e-mails, nor does it contact taxpayers on the phone. In addition, she said the IRS never asks people for detailed personal information like PIN numbers, password or similar secret access information.