Nesconset Library Offers AARP Tax Assistance

With tax season here, AARP Tax Help is available at the Nesconset Branch of the Smithtown Special Library District on Thursday and April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Volunteers come in for AARP. Most of them do have tax backgrounds, because they work for the IRS as tax accountants,” said Librarian Claire Dispirito. “The program is technically supposed to be for senior citizens, but they’ll take anybody that comes in. We also don’t ask for library cards, so if they’re not a Smithtown patron, that doesn’t mean they won’t be taken.”

All are welcome, but assistance is only available for basic tax returns.

“It has to be simple taxes. Not a lot of capital gain. Most of the people that come in are older and just have short forms. They can have deductions, but not for a business,” Dispirito said.

Dispirito recommends coming as early as possible to ensure a spot, because this is the first year it will be first come, first serve.

“We’ve been doing it a long time. We didn’t do it by appointment only this year, because we weren’t sure at one point if we were going to be closing somewhere in March and would have to make phone calls to the people who signed up,” she said. “The volunteers will try the best they can to take everybody. What we do recommend is people do get here early, even if they wanted to get here before 10 a.m., sit in their car, and have a cup of coffee.”