Free tax preparation help is being offered throughout SLO County. Here are the details
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide of San Luis Obispo County once again is offering free tax preparation assistance, starting Feb. 1, and appointments can be booked now.
Additionally, Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business also is again providing free tax return preparation assistance through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA).
Here are the details on each program.
AARP Tax-Aide
The services, funded through the AARP Foundation, are available to all seniors and low- to moderate-income residents at locations countywide and not just AARP members.
All assistance is by appointment and AARP Tax-Aide is offering an online self-booking appointment system for taxpayers at ccfreetax.org.
Taxpayers without a computer, tablet or smartphone can call the appointment line at 805-931-6308, beginning Monday — but participants are strongly encouraged to use the online system.
“Due to the pandemic, AARP Tax-Aide will require that masks are always worn while at the Tax-Aide locations (detailed below),” an organization news release noted. “Additionally, taxpayers may be asked to stay in their car while their return is being prepared.”
AARP Tax-Aide has been providing tax preparation service to Central Coast residents for more than three decades.
The roughly 75 local AARP tax counselors and other volunteers are trained annually. They are IRS certified and provide services across the county at seven preparation sites.
The service sites and their available days and times are the following:
Arroyo Grande: Grace Bible Church, 100 Rodeo Drive (at James Way)
Monday: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (closed Feb. 21)
Atascadero: St. William’s Catholic Church, Parish Hall, 6410 Santa Lucia Road
Monday and Friday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Morro Bay: Church of Christ -lower level, 1001 Las Tunas St. at Kings
Tuesday and Wednesday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nipomo: St Joseph’s Catholic Church, 298 S. Thompson Ave.
Tuesday and Thursday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (closed Feb. 10 and Feb. 17, will open Feb. 9 and Feb. 16 instead)
Paso Robles: Senior Center at Vet’s Building, 240 Scott St.
Monday and Tuesday: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Centennial Park, 600 Nickerson Dr.
Saturday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
San Luis Obispo: Church of the Nazarene, 3396 Johnson Avenue
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cal Poly VITA clinic
The Orfalea College of Business will hold its free tax assistance clinics on campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays starting Jan. 29 through March 12. The program started in 1992.
The service is available to local individuals and families earning less than $58,000 per year.
Appointments can be made and paperwork may be filled out at cob.calpoly.edu/vita.
The clinic will be on the third floor of Business Building No. 3 and it’s wheelchair accessible.
This year, all community members are required to schedule an appointment at myfreetaxes.org.
“More than 50 Cal Poly accounting students will prepare tax returns as part of the VITA program, which is sanctioned by and coordinated with the Internal Revenue Service and California Franchise Tax Board,” the university said in a news release. “These IRS-certified students will prepare returns while Orfalea College of Business faculty and volunteer certified public accountants review and file the returns.”
Forms they are able to prepare include 1040, 1040A, 10 40EZ, 540, 540A, 540EZ and some supporting forms.
“Participants need to bring their ID, Social Security card and/or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number; 2020 tax returns; and all 2021 tax-related documents, including: child-care expenses, Letter 6419 for monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments, Letter 6475 (if you received a third round of stimulus checks in 2021), and health insurance coverage information,” the news release noted.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, participants must wear a mask and bring proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of a visit. Additionally, only one family representative may be permitted to enter the building.
The students, in partnership with the United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County, will also host additional clinics at two other Central Coast locations:
▪ Allan Hancock College Community Education Center (Building S-103)
800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria
Saturday sessions from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Feb. 12 through April 9 (closed Feb. 19, March 26 and April 2)
By appointment only: myfreetaxes.org
▪ Oceano Elementary School
1551 17th St., Oceano
Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Feb. 12 through March 12
By appointment: myfreetaxes.org.
For more information, call 805-756-2667 (English and Spanish) or visit vita.calpoly.edu. For more details on the United Way clinics, call 805-922-0329, ext. 103.
Correction: The Paso Robes City Library will not be able to offer the AARP tax prep program this year as this story previously mentioned, but services are being offered on the days and times previously listed for the library at Centennial Park, 600 Nickerson Dr., in Paso Robles.
