Editor, KnoxPages.com:
It is our sad duty to report that after 35 years of serving as a conduit between the Internal Revenue Service and local taxpayers to distribute thousands upon thousands of paper tax forms and instructions, the Library’s role in this service is being scaled back drastically.
Blame draconian cuts to the IRS budget enacted by Congress. Whereas we used to get abundant copies (boxes and boxes of them arriving every December in plenty of time for the impending tax preparation season) of virtually every IRS form and publication, beginning this year we will be sent only a modest shipment of Forms 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ, NOT INCLUDING THE INSTRUCTIONS (which run to about 86 pages).
We will still receive a set of forms suitable for copying, but please note that at 10 cents a page, the instructions alone would cost $8.60. We wish it were otherwise, but the Library cannot afford to give away that many copies for free, so the cost will have to be borne by the individual taxpayer. No one is happy about this state of affairs, but rest assured that the Library will do everything possible to help taxpayers get all of the forms, instructions and information they need and to be able to file their tax returns in an accurate and timely manner.
Please note also that we are once again hosting the AARP Tax-Aide program, which offers free tax preparation services for all, with particular emphasis on low to moderate income taxpayers and those over age 60. Please call Donna Young (740-392-2665, ext. 242) to schedule your free tax preparation appointment.
-John Chidester, PLMVKC Executive Director
