Free assistance available in DeKalb County makes tax season less taxing for some.

The AARP- and IRS-supported Tax Aid program offers free tax assistance for both online or paper taxes.

Bob Morrison, district coordinator of DeKalb County Tax Aid and Sycamore resident, said there is the misconception that the program is only for older people, but the range of ages actually is from age 15 to 90.

The program generally caters to people with a lower income, but is open to anyone.

“It helps particularly the people that can’t pay to have their taxes done,” Morrison said.

Teresa Iversen, reference librarian at the DeKalb Public Library, described the service as very popular and said many people call months in advance to find out if free tax help will be available again.

“There’s people waiting to get into the library on Saturdays before we even open,” Iversen said.

Andrea McLaughlin, coordinator at the Senior Service Center, said an average of about 20 per day have been coming to get help with their taxes.

“[We] had several calls and several people come in,” McLaughlin said.

The volunteers of the program consist of mainly local residents who are unpaid. They include anyone interested in doing taxes who have the desire to help people and have passed a test to qualify.

Morrison, who has been a volunteer since 1994, said other people have been volunteering longer.

Morrison said to bring in all tax-related materials and know information like dividends, interests, stocks, bonds, etc. if applicable.

“Try to get everything in before you come,” Morrison said. “If possible, bring in last year’s return.”

Other tax assistance will be offered at the Founders Memorial Library after Spring Break.

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