Volunteers with the AARP Tax Aide program began helping prepare residents’ returns last week. The program offers free tax preparation to low and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to taxpayers age 60 and over.

Gloucester’s AARP Tax Aide volunteers will be available at Mathews Memorial Library on Fridays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. through April 14.

Volunteers will also be available at the Gloucester Main Library (Main Street Center) on Mondays beginning next week from 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. through April 10 (except Feb. 20 is moved to Tuesday, Feb. 21). Counselors will also provide Saturday hours at this location from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Feb. 11, 18 and 25 and March 11, 18 and April 8.

Tax Aide volunteers will also be available in Gloucester Point at Bethany United Methodist Church each Wednesday now through April 12, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

No appointments are necessary and all Tax Aide volunteers are trained and certified through the IRS and are available to provide basic tax preparation services for 1040EZ, 1040A, 1040 (plus a limited number of schedules) and Virginia 760 forms.

Each taxpayer should bring the following for program assistance: photo ID, Social Security numbers for all individuals listed on the return; copies of last year’s returns, W-2 forms, unemployment compensation statements, SSA-1099 if paid Social Security benefits, all 1099 forms (1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-MISC, 1099-B plus purchase price of any investment sold during the tax year), 1099-R forms if paid a pension or annuity, all forms indicating federal income tax paid, child care provider information, receipts/cancelled checks if itemizing deductions, and documents showing the amount of real and personal property tax paid.

Those receiving Social Security benefits should also bring their Social Security cards.