Do you need help with your taxes? This Whatcom County service offers free help

With the April 18 tax filing deadline looming, AARP is offering free tax preparation assistance in Bellingham for eligible taxpayers.

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program provides free in-person and virtual appointments for taxpayers from February through April nationwide.

April 18 is the date all tax returns, extensions and tax amounts owed must be submitted, according to the Internal Revenue System’s website.

The Bellingham tax-aide location specifies that as the program focuses on low-income taxpayers and those 50 years and older, “the service is open to most taxpayers regardless of age or income, and can do most returns with the exception of farm income, rental income and some other more complicated issues,” the location’s Facebook page states.

“This service is completely free. Although we focus on seniors, more than half of our clients are under 60 years old. We do not have any restrictions as to income level and can do all but the most complicated returns,” Carlton Nathon, district coordinator of AARP Tax-Aide wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.

Each tax-aide location has IRS-certified and trained volunteers able to assist in filing taxes.

Many Whatcom residents have used the free tax services, according to Nathon, and benefited with tax returns.

“Prior to COVID our site at the First Congregational Church had been the largest single Tax-Aide site in Washington for many years. We help close to 2,000 individuals and families in the county, we accounted for approximately $1.5 million per year in refunds to our clients and we estimate that we saved our clients close to $300,000 per year in tax preparation charges that they would have to pay to have their taxes prepared,” Nathon wrote.

AARP has two tax-aide locations in Bellingham, at the Bellingham Senior Activity Center and First Congregational Church.

The senior activity center requires appointments for tax-aide, which can be made by contacting the center at 360-733-4030. Tax-aide will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays beginning Friday, Feb. 3, through April 14. The center is at 315 Halleck St.

First Congregational Church does not require appointments and serves walk-in visitors on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tax-aide is available from 3-6:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays beginning Monday, Jan. 30, through April 18. The church is at 2401 Cornwall Ave.