A Message from Dave Beal, Tax Aide Program;
As you are aware, the Senior Center and other town facilities are closed because of concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. National AARP has also suspended the Tax Aide program. We have no estimate as to when this suspension will be lifted. We cannot begin to reschedule appointments until the Town of Hingham reopens the Senior Center AND the AARP restores our authority to prepare and file tax returns. We understand how stressful this delay is for you.
The good news is that the IRS has extended the due date for filing federal tax returns to July 15th, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has not yet announced an extension of the filing deadline for state taxes, but this is sure to happen.
Because of this extension, most tax payers will probably want to wait until Tax-Aide service resumes. The volunteer tax preparers at the Senior Center are already working on plans to assure that everyone who had a tax appointment before the suspension will have one after the suspension is lifted.
Taxpayers who cannot wait until Tax-Aide service resumes can consider online filing. The IRS (go to irs.gov) has a free e-file program for federal and state tax returns (for incomes less than $69,000). They also provide a list of paid on-line preparation vendors.
There will be an end to this. The waiting is hard for us all.
Sincerely,
Department of Elder Services