AARP Tax-Aide provides free tax help at area libraries

Volunteers were busy helping some residents prepare their income tax returns Monday as part of AARP Foundation Tax-Aide at the Fremont Public Library in Mundelein.

IRS-certified volunteers provide free, individualized tax preparation for low- to moderate-income taxpayers - especially those 50 and older and who can't afford a tax preparation service.

"The program is sponsored jointly by AARP and the IRS. AARP provides the funding for the program and the IRS provides the tax software," said Richard Warren, coordinator for the Fremont Library AARP Tax-Aide program. "We have people who come in here year after year and they are like family. There is nothing any better than having somebody come over and thank you for doing their tax return and helping them figure out their tax situation."

More than 600 tax returns are expected to be filed through the Fremont library and another 300 people come in with tax questions.

"I think it's awesome. They do a wonderful job and they are very complete and thorough," said Beth Rainer of Round Lake Beach. "They ask questions. If there is a problem, they hunt it down and solve it. They're great."

Lake County has 12 sites for AARP tax help, with most libraries offering help at least once a week.

To find a location and time in your area, go to AARP Foundation Tax-Aide at http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/.