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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Ashland Calendar, Friday, July 10 ... More thunderstorms expected ... Stay out of the creek, officials warn ... Ashland Calendar, Friday, July 10 ... More thunderstorms expected ... Stay out of the creek, officials warn ... ASHLAND AARP offers free tax aid Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Feb. 25, 2015 at 8:32 PM Updated Feb 25, 2015 at 8:33 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Feb. 25, 2015 at 8:32 PM Updated Feb 25, 2015 at 8:33 PM » Social News   As for many years in the past, at many locations in the valley, you can get your taxes done free by friendly, skilled volunteers — and e-filed the same day. In Ashland, the free — did we mention it's free? — is available at The Grove, 1195 East Main St., next to the city offices on East Main Street. It's open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays. It’s staffed by trained accountants from AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired People — but you don’t need to be a member of AARP; they serve any ages and have lots of college students as clients.  All you do is bring a picture ID, Social Security card, last year’s tax return, W-2 or 1099 forms, all relevant income and expense records — and your spouse, in person, if you are filing jointly. Also bring information on your health insurance coverage and income earned by your dependents.  You don’t need an appointment. Just walk in, sit down, fill out a form and wait for the next available accountant to go over it all with you. They file it within hours and can even arrange to have payments, if necessary, deducted from your bank accounts.  “It helps me as far as out-of-pocket costs and I’ve been doing it many years,” says Melody Bentley of Talent. “It’s a great benefit for the community at large.”  Working with her is Rick Sparks, a former H&R Block accountant, who says, “It’s a real study in how real people are living with the Affordable Care Act, not politically, but in reality. What AARP does is wonderful because the tax code ... has been made so complicated by Congress that the individual can’t understand it. They have to get help and they shouldn’t have to pay for it.”  Client Dana Smith confessed she’s always “had issues,” made mistakes and got stressed out trying to do taxes on her own, but came to AARP last year.  “It was phenomenon. I love these people. This is my second time of many more in the future. They do everything. I just sit there and answer questions.”  Mary Rothman also tried to do it herself, but after age 70, decided to go to AARP.  “They are so beautiful and did everything right,” said Rothman. “I just followed the form of the previous year and got the numbers. Here, they know all the latest changes that I would overlook.”  The site coordinator in Ashland, Darlene Steffani, said, “The wonderful part is that it’s free and we take everyone, any age and you don’t have to be members of AARP. The fact is, 99 percent of our clients could not afford to go elsewhere. Most are just barely making it.”  Another plus of their tax prep is that a second volunteer accountant goes over what the first accountant did, a “two sets of eyes review” with a very low rejection rate by the IRS, says Steffani.  Their work picks up a couple of identity thefts each year — a criminal who has already committed the felony of using your Social Security number, resulting in the rejection of your tax return.  “This is a very bad situation for the victim. Nationwide, it’s in the billions of dollars,” says Steffani. “I tell them to call the police. They have to then send in a paper return. We help with that too. It delays refunds for up to six weeks.” Unlike H&R Block and such tax services, the AARP does not sign your return; you alone are responsible for it, says Sparks, and, although they enter the numbers you tell them to, if anyone seems to be fabricating or misrepresenting themselves, it’s no go.  “If we’re not getting the truth,” he says, “we decline to do the taxes.”  AARP Tax-Aide centers are also operating in Medford, Phoenix, Talent and White City. Cost for the service is — well, nothing. It's free. That's the bottom line. Reach Ashland freelance writer John Darling at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Feb. 25, 2015 at 8:32 PM Updated Feb 25, 2015 at 8:33 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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