CLEARFIELD – Under the direction of Sharon Durandetta, district coordinator of the Clearfield County Tax -Aide Program, over forty volunteers are now in the process of receiving IRS training and preparing for their test in mid-January to become Tax-Aide volunteer counselors.
Each year the volunteers undergo training given by AARP and the IRS to update their current knowledge and to understand the new rules and regulations and testing that is needed for them to prepare federal, state and local income tax forms for individuals age 60 and older and those persons with low incomes living in Clearfield County.
In Clearfield County, the Tax-Aide program was started in 1983. It is administered under the direction of three partners: the IRS, AARP and the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc. The IRS provides the bulk of the training, technical support and necessary papers and materials. AARP assumes part of the responsibility for the administration of the program and the establishment of an effective liaison with the IRS offices at a national and regional level.
The CCAAA provides staff, technical support and assistance in the selection, housing and managing of volunteer sites as well as recruitment of volunteers age 18 years and older. Many of the Tax-Aide volunteers are recruited by the RSVP program. The CCAAA also provides assistance with ongoing media coverage, advertising the program and insuring that special emphasis has been placed on reaching older people who are shut-in, blind, or disabled in Clearfield County.
The Clearfield County Tax-Aide program has utilized electronic filing at their sites for the past five years. They have surpassed many other tax sites by E-Filing over 98% of the tax forms completed electronically which is above the 57.4 percent average in the West PA-2 division for E-Filing.
Individuals needing assistance from Tax-Aide may attend any of the Tax-Aide sites at the following locations:
West Side United Methodist Church
317 Nichols St.
Clearfield, PA 16830
February 5– April 15, 2008
Tuesday, Wednesday &Thursday
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
DuBois Senior and Community Center
120 West Park Avenue
DuBois, PA 15801
February 4 – April 14, 2008
Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
CMA Church
803 Susquehanna Avenue
Curwensville, PA 16833
February 4 – April 14, 2008
Mondays
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Houtzdale Family Service Center
Apt 3, 40 Terrace Drive
Houtzdale, PA 16651
February 6- April 9, 2008
Fridays
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Dates have been set for the following locations by appointment only:
Mahaffey Center for Active Living
958 Market Street
Mahaffey, PA 15757
(814) 277-4544
March 6, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
By Appointment Only
Coalport Center for Active Living
Glendale Medical Center Complex
850 Rear Main Street
Coalport, PA 16627
(814) 672-3574
March 20, 2008
9:00 am – 1:00 p.m.
By Appointment Only
Kylertown Center for Active Living
70 Senior Drive
Kylertown, PA 16847
(814) 345-6338
March 3, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
By Appointment Only
Karthaus Center for Active Living
975 Market Street
Karthaus, PA 16845
(814) 263-7277
March 10, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
By Appointment Only
For Tax-Aide assistance, bring your current tax records and a copy of last year’s income tax return with you to a Tax-Aide site. Remember, anyone who has earned over $35 of taxable income in 2007 must file a Pennsylvania State Income Tax form.
If you need help or know of someone who is in need of help with tax preparation or need information on the program, contact Alice Pollock at the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc. at 765-2696 or 1-800-225-8571.
Programs and services of the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Mature Resources Foundation, and local and client contributions.