First Family Federal Credit Union (FFFCU) and AARP team up again for the sixth year, providing free tax preparation for the citizens of Henryetta and the surrounding areas. This service is not just for the members of AARP or FFFCU, but anyone from the community can benefit from this service as long as their taxes fall within the parameters of the training.

The ladies (pictured) are in training to learn the new tax laws and prepare your tax returns.

With a combined 65+ years of tax preparing experience, they’re bringing serious know-how to help citizens. There are two preparers who retired from the tax field:

• Kathy Graffman and Shirley McCowan

• Amber Pippin has six years experience preparing taxes

• Heather Berry has five years of experience

• Andrea Britt has four years of experience,

• Amber Mordecai has three years of experience.

This service is offered free of charge every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Feb. 5 through April 9 at the Briefcase, 313 W. Main Street in Henryetta.

Packets will be available after Jan. 23 at the Henryetta Library, First Family Credit Union in Henryetta and Okmulgee, and will be available to pick up at the site (Briefcase) on Feb. 5.

If you have any questions concerning your packet or eligibility, please call 918-268-8676 and leave a message and phone number, your call will be returned.

--- Last Year’s Impact 324 returns prepared

• Federal Refunds: $317,232.00

• Average Refund: $1,082.70

• Total EIC: $61,482.00

• Average EIC: $1,921.31

• Average AGI: $ 40,835.67

• Child Tax Credit: $68,923.00

• Education Credit: $11,591.00

• Advance CTC: $23,092.00 - Citizens have found the program to be very helpful, including those who participated in a survey:

• So helpful, kind, so nice, informed and efficient.

• Several said they did not know where to go for help and were so glad they came to us.

• A widow had not filed taxes in five years since her husband passed and said “he had always taken care of this” so she did not know what to do. We were able to help her.

FFFCU and AARP are glad to be able to offer a program like this to the community, and with more volunteers, the program can continue to expand.

--- How AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Can Help You Today Free tax return preparation is offered to anyone who needs it. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained to help you file a variety of income tax forms and schedules.

In certain situations, however, volunteers may be unable to provide assistance. The Volunteer Protection Act requires that volunteers stay within the scope of tax law and policies set by the IRS and AARP Foundation. Here’s a guide to what our Tax-Aide volunteers can - and can’t - do. Most returns can be prepared with:

• Wages, interest, dividends, capital gains/losses, unemployment compensation, pensions and other retirement income, Social Security benefits

• Self-employment income, with limits

• Most income reported on Form 1099-MISC. or Form 1099NEC

• Schedule K-1 that includes only interest, dividends, capital gains/losses or royalties

• Charitable cash contributions

• Qualified Business Income deduction

• Economic Impact Payments (aka Stimulus Payments)

• Itemized deductions, including non-cash contributions to charity that total no more than $5,000

• Cancellation of nonbusiness credit card debt

• IRA contributions - deductible or not

• Most credits, such as earned income credit, education credits, child/additional child credit and credit for other dependents, child/dependent care credit, premium tax credit, simplified method foreign tax credit, self-employed sick leave or family leave credit, and retirement savings credit

• Repayment of first-time homebuyer credit

• Estimated tax payments

• Injured spouse allocation

• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

• Amendments to filed returns

• Prior three tax years’ returns

• Oklahoma State Return

• Volunteer firemen’s credit

• Retirement deduction state - Returns cannot be prepared with:

• Self-employment if there are employees, losses, expenses that exceed $35,000, depreciation, business use of home, 1099 filing requirements or other complicating factors

• Hobby income or other activities not for profit

• Complicated capital gains/ losses, such as futures or options

• Complicated Schedule K-1

• Rental income, except land-only rentals or rentals of personal residence less than 15 days

• Royalty income with expenses if not from self-employment

• Tax on a Child’s Investment and Other Unearned Income (Kiddie Tax)

• Farm income or expenses

• Moving expenses

• Some investment income or itemized deductions that are not included in our training.

• Alternative Minimum Tax, Additional Medicare Tax, or Net Investment Income Tax

•Foreign financial asset reporting requirements *Most virtual currency investments or transactions *State home school and Private school credit - Taxpayers will:

• Provide all required information and documents to ensure the completion of your return

• Sign-in at the tax site and follow the guidance of the volunteer

• Complete the Intake Booklet fully and accurately

• Participate in the intake interview, tax preparation and quality review process

• Inform the volunteer of all income including cash, gambling winnings, etc.

• Understand that some returns are beyond the program scope (see scope poster) or have complicated state or other issues. If your return falls outside the program scope, you must either prepare your own return or engage a professional preparer

• Ensure the return is complete and accurate before signing. Joint returns require the signature of both spouses

• Agree that you are responsible for the accuracy of the return

• Treat volunteers with courtesy and respect

• Questions? Call 888-687-2277 or email taxaide@aarp.org