Tax questions? They've got answers

COEUR d'ALENE - Much like a 1040 form, the class was a little hard to follow.

There was talk of filing status and qualifying children, of forms with so many letters and numbers it sounded like a "Sesame Street" show.

To understand it, well, you'd have to be trained.

Fortunately, that's why they were there.

"When I started doing this, I did returns with a pencil and carbon paper. The tax code has gotten so complicated now, I wouldn't begin to do it with paper and pencil," said Deb Fisher, instructing a class on tax returns at Silver Lake Mall on Wednesday with her husband, Warren. "I think the whole tax code is so complicated, it's just silly."

The Fishers are tasked with training volunteers for AARP Tax Aide, a program where volunteers provide free income tax assistance from Feb. 1 to April 15 at several Kootenai County locations.

A national service provided in the county for roughly 40 years, Tax Aide serves taxpayers of any age who are of low to moderate income.

Here's the bonus: Folks don't have to be AARP members to use the service.

Good thing, too, because so many need help, Deb said.

"Folks we're working with, I get immediate gratification that I helped them," said Deb, 60, who has been volunteering with the free tax service for 16 years. "Once we're done, they stand up and give you a hug and shake your hand. Their body language has changed."

Warren said 5,000 county residents took advantage of the service last year.

"Free is good," said Warren, 62 and a volunteer for 15 years.

The couple is helping prep about 60 volunteers for the event, which should handle the crowds. They expect lines in the initial weeks, but the demand usually wanes around early March, Deb said.

Volunteers can't handle income taxes that are too complicated, she warned. That includes depreciations and small businesses with inventory and employees.

"When it gets really complicated, we say, 'Go to a paid preparer,'" she said. "We train these guys in essentially 40 hours. There's no way to cover the whole tax code in 40 hours."

The free program is put on both by the IRS and AARP, which recently merged their tax assistance services.

Jack Dell, a retired accountant, said he has volunteered since 2004 because doing taxes is fun.

"It's like a jigsaw puzzle, with all the pieces, and at the end is the return," the 69-year-old said, smiling wide.

The best part is helping folks get refunds, Dell added, remembering a low income family he helped with just that.

"The mom leaned over to her little tyke, and she said, 'Susie, do you remember that toy train? We can get it!'" he said. "To me, that's what I'm here for."

Deb, also a state trainer who teaches others to run the training classes, said she has volunteered for so long because of that very satisfaction. Especially with older folks who don't usually take care of their own finances, she said.

"They come in with a huge pile of income documents, and they haven't even opened them, they're so nervous about it," she said. "And at the end, they find, 'Oh, I only owe $120, not $2,000. It's something I can deal with.'"

Deb and Warren were acknowledged by AARP last month for their extensive volunteering. The pair was rewarded with a laser jet printer and the award for Best Volunteer in the Pacific Northwest.

"I love it. We're both half a volunteer," Deb said with a laugh.

Those who utilize Tax Aide services need to bring their Social Security card, their children's Social Security cards, photo ID, their 2009 income tax return and all 2010 income documents.

Anyone who would like to volunteer in the future can call Duane Brown at 651-6635.