Just in time for tax filing season, free tax assistance is being offered in Western North Carolina.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in cooperation with the IRS, NC Department of Revenue, Buncombe County Library System, and Council on Aging, Inc. will be offering tax preparations for low and moderate income tax payers, as well as elderly and disabled people in need of help.
"There are a lot of changes for 2022 from 2021," said Carol Hughes, a professor at UNC Asheville. "Some amounts have been reduced, some types of credit are no longer available and so it's very important that people come and learn about the changes."
You will need an appointment to speak with a tax help aide. At your appointment, you can drop off your tax documents and you’ll be given another appointment in about two weeks to pick up your paperwork and completed tax form.
Buncombe County officials provided the following information about tax assistance available:
How it works
- Pick up a tax record envelope and instructions at Black Mountain, West Asheville, Weaverville, or Pack Library during library hours.
- Complete the Intake/Interview Booklet in your envelope by answering all questions. Then sign and date the last 3 pages. Place all your tax forms and any information relating to your tax return in your envelope.
- Make an appointment to drop off your Tax Record Envelope and meet with a Tax-Aide volunteer.
Schedule and appointments
Black Mountain Library
- Mondays and Thursdays, appointments are available between 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
- To make an appointment, either email NCVThelper@gmail.com with your name and telephone number, or call (828) 669-8610 between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. An AARP volunteer will contact you to set up your appointment. You can pick up a tax packet at the library. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents.
Pack Memorial Library
- Wednesdays, appointments are available between 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- To make an appointment on Wednesday at Pack Library, email packtaxes@gmail.com with your name and phone number. An AARP volunteer will contact you to set up your appointment. If you don’t have access to email, the staff at the library can email AARP for you. You can pick up your tax packet at the library. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents.
- Saturdays, appointments are available between 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
- To make an appointment for Saturday tax help at Pack Library, email vitatax.unca@gmail.com. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents. This tax help is provided by UNCA. Saturday tax help ends on April 1 and there will be no tax help on February 18.
Weaverville Library and Weaverville First Baptist Church
- Thursdays, appointments are available between 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- To make an appointment for tax help at the Weaverville First Baptist Church email aarptaxesweaverville@gmail.com with your name and telephone number OR call the Weaverville Library at 828-250-6482 with questions. If you don’t have access to email, the staff at the library can email AARP for you. An AARP volunteer will contact you to set up your appointment at the Weaverville First Baptist Church. You can pick up your tax packet at the library. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents.
West Asheville Library
- Tuesdays, appointments are available between 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- To make an appointment at the West Asheville Library email aarptaxeswestasheville@gmail.com with your name and telephone number. An AARP volunteer will contact you to set up your appointment. If you don’t have access to email, the staff at the library can email AARP for you. You can pick up your tax packet at the library. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents in 1 or 2 weeks.
- Tax help will start on Feb. 1 and end on April 15.
Bring the following documents and tax forms to your tax help appointment. Photocopies are recommended:
- Photo ID / Driver License for Taxpayer and Spouse
- Social Security Cards for Taxpayer, Spouse and ALL dependents
- Prior year Federal and State tax return
- W-2 (Wages), W-2G (Gambling winnings)
- Amounts of Stimulus Payments you received (EIP-3, IRS Letter 6475)
- Amounts of Child Tax Credit Payment you received (IRS Letter 6419)
- SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefit Statement)
- 1099-R (Retirement), 1099-RRB (Railroad Retirement Benefits)
- 1099-Interest, 1099-Dividend, 1099-OID
- 1099-B (Brokerage Statement, Sale of Stocks and Bonds), 1099-Ks
- 1099-G (Unemployment and State refunds)
- 1099-NEC (Self-Employment), 1099-MISC, PLUS itemized list of expenses
- 1099-S (Sale of Home), 1099-C (Forgiveness of Credit Card Debt)
- 1098- Home Mortgage Interest and Real Estate Taxes
- 1099-T (Education Credits) PLUS Student Account Statement
- 1098-E (Student Loan Interest)
- 1099-SA and/or 5498-SA (HSA = Health Savings Account) PLUS itemized list of expenses
- 1095-A (Health Insurance – Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance Marketplace)
- Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)
- Any other documents or information relevant to preparation of the tax return
- Voided check for direct deposit of any refund to your checking / savings account
The North Carolina Department of Revenue officially opened the 2023 individual income tax season on Feb. 2 and began downloading 2022 returns.