Free Tax Help Program Kicks Off in Greenbelt

Free tax help arrived for Greenbelt residents of all ages on Tuesday. It was the kick-off for the AARP's annual tax help program, which has been serving Greenbelt for more than 10 years.

Greenbelt volunteers, who are IRS and AARP trained, will offer residents assistance with their 2011 state and federal income taxes through April 12, on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Greenbelt. Greenbelters do not have to be members of AARP to get help, but they do need an appointment.

Greenbelt Intergenerational Volunteer Exchange Service's (GIVES) has begun scheduling appointments, which are being offered twice a week. Four to five individual preparers will be on hand to help residents from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Three rounds of appointments will be offered, with start times available at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Tax preparers will offer assistance for about an hour and are available by appointment only.

On Tuesdays, appointments will be held at the in its Banquet Room. Tax help will also be offered at the Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department on Thursdays.

Residents interested in getting tax help can contact GIVES at (301) 507-6580. The GIVES office is staffed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Editor's Note: This story has been corrected. An earlier version did not show AARP as the head of this event. We regret this error.