The room at the Marquette Senior Center where taxes are done is pictured. The senior center has been partnering with AARP to offer tax filings for 15 years. (Photo courtesy of the Marquette Senior Center)

MARQUETTE — The Marquette and Negaunee senior centers have teamed up with American Association of Retired Persons, AARP, to provide persons 50 years of age and older with free assistance in doing their taxes.

“You think about people living on a fixed income, or people that may not have access to as many resources as other populations and that would be our seniors. So any peace of mind we can offer the older adults in our area makes us stronger as a community,” Marquette Senior Center Senior Services Manager Maureen McFadden said.

Individuals assisting with the taxes are trained by AARP and are all volunteers doing this on their own time. It is a secure program, and AARP does not retain any personal information. Both state and federal taxes can be done, however, AARP can not do the following: rental income, farm credits, business except for CEZ forms, very complicated stock sales, or other returns they are not comfortable or trained to complete.

The Marquette Senior Center has been partnering with AARP for 15 years to provide this service.

“It just offers our community members peace of mind,” McFadden said.

For individuals looking to schedule an appointment at the Marquette location, call 906-228-0456. Appointments are available on Tuesdays and Fridays. The last appointment date at the Marquette location will be April 5. It is advised to make an appointment as soon as possible, as appointment times are filling up fast. McFadden stated the program is projected to serve about 300 adults this season.

Anyone who makes an appointment gets a packet of information in the mail that will tell them everything they need to bring, when the appointment is, and also a KN95 mask.

“Just to eliminate any barriers one might have or concerns. Our team has done everything we can to keep it as safe as possible following all CDC and health department recommendations,” McFadden said.

Masks are required to be worn in the senior center.

The Negaunee Senior Center has also offered this service for many years. Before, they were a satellite location to one of the other AARP sites. The AARP would give them whatever dates volunteers had available, making it difficult to create a set schedule. Now, the center has its own site coordinator.

“We’re very excited now that we have our own site coordinator and are able to do taxes for folks two days a week throughout the tax season,” Negaunee Senior Center Director Kristy Malmsten said.

“It’s another thing we can provide to help people make sure that they’re able to get all the things that they need to have done for their day-to-day living. If we can make that a little bit easier, we definitely want to help with that. It is wonderful that we have volunteers that are dedicated to come and do taxes through this AARP program.”

To make an appointment at the Negaunee Senior Center, call 906-475-6266 and ask for service coordinator Patty. The last appointment date at the Negaunee location will be March 31. Again, appointments are filling up fast so it is requested that people call sooner rather than later to make an appointment.

“We hear people say, ‘I don’t have all my paperwork yet’, that isn’t necessary to make the appointment. We want to make sure that they reserve their spot rather than wait for when they have all their things gathered,” Malmsten said.

While the center is primarily serving the seniors in its service area, there are appointments available for people outside of the area. The Forsyth Township Senior Center does not have volunteers doing taxes there this year, but those seniors can instead get them done at the Negaunee location.

Forsyth Township residents who make an appointment can pick up their tax packets with the information needed on what to bring at the Forsyth Senior Center instead of going all the way to Negaunee.

Arrangements for Negaunee residents who make an appointment will be made to pick their packets up at the senior center, or if they’re in the service area the senior center can drop the packets off at participants residence. Masks will not be sent with packets unless requested. Masks are required to be worn in the senior center.

“For seniors in our service area, our social work staff can also help if they need help going through their paperwork and trying to figure out if they have everything they need,” Malmsten said.

The following items should be brought to the appointment:

1. If filing a joint return, both parties must be present with photo identification.

2. If the taxpayer is homebound, a power of attorney should be presented for the individual.

3. A copy of a completed 2020 tax return.

4. Social Security cards for all persons on the return.

5. W-2 for all jobs worked.

6. 1099 INT, This shows interest earned; this may also be shown on a 1099R.

7. 1099 DIV, This shows any dividends earned and may also be shown on a 1099R.

8. Written documentation of any self-employed business expenses and income, including cash income.

9. 1099B, Capital gains or losses. You must have the cost basis of any stocks or mutual funds that were sold.

10. 1099R, showing any IRA distributions pensions or annuities.

11. 1099G, unemployment compensation.

12. SSA 1099, Social Security and railroad benefits.

13. 1099 MISC, any miscellaneous income.

14. W-2 G, Gambling winnings.

15. If you itemize deductions, you must have written proof of all deductions.

16. 1095A, this form will arrive if you purchased your healthcare insurance through the marketplace.

17. If you have an exemption from the Affordable Care Act, you will need to provide the exemption certificate.

18. You must provide a blank or canceled check in the name of the taxpayer for AARP to obtain the correct routing and account information. An alternative would be a letter signed by a bank employee on bank stationary listing the routing and account numbers.

19. To do the property tax credit, AARP needs copies of the amount of property tax assessed for 2021 and the taxable value of the home. If you rent, they need to know the name and address to whom you pay the rent and how much.

20. For the home heating credit, they need the amount you paid for heating during the year from your provider. If you heat with wood, they need to know the amount you paid for the wood.

“We really want to thank the AARP foundation and the volunteers for partnering with us to provide this service,” McFadden said.

Taylor Johnson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is tjohnson@miningjournal.net.