Need help figuring your tax?

PANAMA CITY — Free income tax preparation assistance saved Isabelle Cheu $300.

“I usually pay for someone to file them,” said Cheu, 51. “This year, my income was much lower, so I couldn’t pay someone; $300 is not cheap.”

Nearly every seat at the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program room at A.D. Harris Learning Village, 819 E. 11th St., was occupied Tuesday morning.

About an hour of waiting for her name to be called “was very fair,” Cheu said. “They go by the list. It’s first come, first served.”

Despite a delayed start to tax season due to the government shutdown, people are pouring in at local free tax preparation sites. The last day to file is April 15.

Just weeks into filing season, more than 1,000 people from Bay and surrounding counties have taken advantage of the United Way of Northwest Florida’s free service, according to Ron Sharpe, director of resource and development at United Way.

“Over 48,000 individuals in Bay County need our services,” Sharpe said, noting anyone who made $58,000 or less last year qualifies for the program.

“Last year we helped over 2,500 families,” he added. “With an average of a $150 tax fee, we saved individuals over $300,000 in our community.”

VITA is open at A.D. Harris Learning Village from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Individuals also are getting tax preparation assistance from the AARP. The organization has two locations: Bay County Fairgrounds, 2230 E. 15th St., and Panama City Beach Library, 12500 Hutchison Blvd.

The service is available at the library Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at the fairgrounds on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It’s been steady at the fairgrounds, said volunteer Rick Vela, noting “free” is the primary perk for those seeking help with filing.

“It’s free to begin with,” he said. “They don’t have to waste money to send an envelope. We do it automatically for them.”

He said, combined, AARP’s tax aide volunteers have more than 100 years of experience.

“We doublecheck our work,” Vela said. “They don’t have to worry about nothing; they just have to sit back and wait for your money to come back.”

Both organizations, AARP and United Way, use volunteers to carry out programs.

WHAT TO BRING

- Social Security cards (for you, your spouse and dependents)

- All wage and tax forms, including: W2, W2G, 1099R

- Interest and dividends statements

- Any other tax documents you’ve received

- Previous year’s tax return, if you have it

- Direct deposit information, such as a checkbook

- If you’re filing a joint return, you and your spouse must be present.WANT TO GO?

- What: United Way of Northwest Florida’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

- When: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Where: A.D. Harris Learning Village, 819 E. 11th St.

- Why: Free income tax services

- Details: 850-481-1322

———

- What: AARP Tax-Aide

- When: At the library, Mondays and Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. At the fairgrounds, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Where: Panama City Beach Library, 12500 Hutchison Blvd., and Bay County Fairgrounds, 2230 E. 15th St.

- Why: Free income tax services

- Details: 850-708-1060