by Max Gulden

There are a few things that just seem inevitable this time each year. People in top hats taking heed of the meteorological expertise of a shadowy subterranean mammal. The glimmer of warmer weather foretelling the approach of spring. A frigid blast of arctic chill to remind us it’s still only February. And then, of course, everyone’s favorite yearly tradition: tax season. For those who truly dread this particular tradition, fortunately, the Ames Public Library offers access to a variety of tax-related resources to help make tax season just a little bit easier.

For this tax season, the Ames Public Library is hosting Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax preparation appointments in partnership with Iowa State University and the United Way of Story County. These appointments are being held at the library and are facilitated by certified volunteers, many of whom have offered their tax preparation services at the library in previous years.

To schedule a tax assistance appointment, you can call the United Way of Story County at (515) 268-5142 during their staffed hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to speak with United Way folks directly. You can also call during their unstaffed hours, and leave a message so that United Way folks can get back to you once they are available.

Further, the library has a wide variety of tax forms for both state and federal taxes as well as instructions for the federal 1040 available for free in the lobby. Library staff can also print off many additional forms upon request. Be aware, some forms cannot be printed and must be obtained either from the IRS or through purchase.

In addition to these options, the library also maintains a webpage with additional information about taxes services as well as links to useful resources for both state and federal taxes, such as the IRS’s tax preparation assistance program Free File. With Free File, qualifying taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes below $73,000 can use guided tax preparation software that will ask you simple questions and do the math for you. Free File also offers free access to fillable online forms regardless of income.

So, if you are looking for ways to help make tax season a little bit less of a hassle this year, consider the resources available through the Ames Public Library.