By MATT LINDSEY

Thousands of St. Lawrence County residents are expected to save money and get the benefit of trained tax professionals by filing income taxes at free sessions throughout the county this year.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Potsdam Neighborhood Center and SUNY Canton are all offering free tax services to county residents.

“This is a free program for people who cannot afford to go anywhere,” said American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) tax-aide Sheryl Campbell.

“Last year we handled over 2,000 returns in St. Lawrence County.”

The Potsdam Neighborhood Center will host free income tax preparations for the first time in an effort to provide a wider demographic of people in St. Lawrence County with the free service.

Director Daisy Cox says by facilitating the program at the center they will be better able to get income tax returns into the hands of people sooner and ensure that they take advantage of Earned Income Credit.

“Earned Income Credit provides such an economic boost and is an asset to their success,” Cox said.

Once again this tax season, students and faculty from the SUNY Canton accounting program will help individuals and families file their tax returns through the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

The college’s School of Business and Liberal Arts sponsors this program as a service to those who cannot afford to visit an accountant or are unable to prepare their taxes on their own.

Financial Reassurance

AARP’s Campbell says most people who use the free service do so simply because it’s free and getting taxes done by a professional or business ranges anywhere from $50 to over $200.

Other times people are just worried about making mistakes on their claims that could cost them money they were entitled to or lead to fines.

“People like the reassurance,” Campbell said. “We do their taxes right in front of them and go over it with them before they leave.”

The program is funded by the IRS-AARP Foundation, Campbell said. The money pays for paperwork, training and computers for volunteers to use.

About 20 people make the program run through counselor and intake positions.

Because the program is volunteer-based, it is not liable for any mistakes.

“We are protected,” she said. “The person is responsible for the information on their returns which is why it is important for people to be truthful.”

Although the program is aimed at low to middle income families and seniors; anyone can use the free service.

“We do not discriminate,” she said. “Any age…no income restrictions.”

Campbell says they trained to prepare returns for most taxpayers and can claim all the usual credits: the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Credit, Education Credits, etc.

“This is a good program and the volunteers enjoy doing it.” “It is feel good for both sides…for the preparers and taxpayers.”

The AARP service is available Feb. 1 through April 1 and the schedule is as follows:

• Massena - Mondays and Tuesdays 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Massena Community Ctr., 61 Beach St.

• Potsdam - Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Midtown Apts., Munson St.

• Canton - Tuesdays 4 to 8 p.m., Knights of Columbus, Miner St.

• Canton - Wednesdays 1 to 4 p.m., by appt. only, Partridge Knoll, 30 Sullivan Dr., 212-0409 for an appointment

• Ogdensburg - Thursdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ogdensburg Rescue Squad Bldg. (former Hackett’s Store), Pickering St.

No appointment is needed except at the Canton Partridge Knoll location. Bring all documents showing income for 2014 plus last year’s tax return. Also bring photo ID and social security cards for anyone to be included in the tax return.

Free Tax Services For All

In the hopes of reaching more people and in an effort to compliment the AARP program, the Potsdam Neighborhood Center will offer free tax filing for lower income residents on Wednesdays through tax season.

“I am happy the program is at the center,” said Cox.

The center took over the program which had been held in previous years at the Potsdam Public Library.

Cox says they are using Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) to provide free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

“I’ve been trying to get it at the center for years,” Cox said.

IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. All volunteers are certified by the Internal Revenue Service, and the site is monitored by the Albany IRS Office.

Cox says because the program is monitored closely by the IRS that she “felt good about the program” and had no liability concerns.

She says getting the program up and running was “challenging” but noted that the center will be manned with seasoned volunteers and has the space, computers, internet, copying machines and more to make the program run efficiently.

“We will be directly depositing refunds, and returns should take 10 days or less to be deposited,” she said. “It's just like doing it with other paid preparers…except it's free.”

Earned income and adjusted gross income must be each less than $47,747 ($53,267 if married and filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children; $44,454 ($47,974 if married and filing jointly) with two qualifying children; $39, 131 ($44,651 if married and filing jointly) with one qualifying child and $14,820 ($20,330 if married filing jointly) with no qualifying children.

To see if you qualify, call the center at 265-3920 for an appointment. Appointments will be made for Wednesdays from 6 until 8 p.m.

SUNY Canton

Free tax assistance will be available by appointment Monday, Feb. 1, through April 14 in SUNY Canton’s Accounting, Business and Finance Center in Cook Hall Room 100.

The VITA program allows student volunteers to increase their tax preparation skills and to help teach individuals how to correctly prepare their own taxes.

Students can help those who have trouble filing their taxes, have not filed taxes or simply have tax-related questions.

There is a qualifying income bracket to participate in the program.

Required items include Social Security cards, photo identification, all W-2 forms and any other income documents, unemployment compensation (Form 1099G), interest or dividend income (form 1099INT and 1099DIV), and last year’s New York State and Federal Tax Returns.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact Assistant Professor Brian R. Trill by phone, 379-3916 or by email, trillb@canton.edu.