Need help with your taxes? Seattle library, others offer free assistance

It’s tax time, and if you need help keeping the IRS at bay, the best place to turn just might be the Seattle Public Library.

Once again, the library is partnering with United Way of King County and AARP to offer free tax preparation through mid-April.

Trained volunteers will be on hand during selected days at 15 library locations. They offer three types of service including drop-in assistance on a first-come, first-served basis; appointment-based help; and for the first time, you can drop off all your documents and one of the volunteers will do your taxes for you and you can pick up your completed return within a week.

The service is funded and volunteers trained by the IRS. But can you really trust them to do your taxes?

“Our reject rates are lower than most paid preparers,” says Yuri Kim, manager of basic needs programs at United Way of King County. “If you give us the right information, we’ll make sure it’s done properly and we’re always there year round to help people if they do get any letters from the IRS.”

The United Way provides the tax assistance at other locations around King County as well, Kim says.

As an additional backstop, tax experts run each of the sites to double-check returns and make sure they are done correctly, Kim says.

The service is targeted to individuals or families making up to $60,000 a year. While the volunteers don’t do business returns, they can help the self-employed with $10,000 a year or less in expenses.

Here is the Seattle Public Library schedule through Saturday April 18 (check here for updates as the library says schedule is subject to change.):

Drop-in Tax Help

Offered on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointments or drop-off assistance at these locations.

*Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 5, Charles Simonyi Mixing Chamber, 206-386-4636

Through Saturday, April 18

Noon to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

*Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089

Through Monday, April 13

2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday

*Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave N. 206-684-7519

Through Saturday, April 11

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday

*Douglass-Truth Branch, 2300 E. Yesler Way, 206-684-4704

Through Thursday, April 9

3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday

*Greenwood Branch, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-684-4086

Tuesday, April 14

2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday

*Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7518

Through Monday, April 13

3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday

*NewHolly Branch, 7058 32nd Ave. S., 206-386-1905

Saturday, April 11

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

*Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7539

Through Friday, April 10

1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday

Saturday, March 21 through Saturday, April 11

1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

*Northgate Branch, 10458 Fifth Ave. N.E., 206-386-1980

Through Tuesday, April 14

1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday

3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday

*Queen Anne Branch, 400 West Garfield St., 206-386-4227

Through Wednesday, April 15

Noon to 4:45 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday

*Rainier Beach Branch, 9125 Rainier Ave. S., 206-386-1906

Through Saturday, April 11

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

Appointment-based Tax Help

Tax preparation by pre-arranged appointment. Call the Library location to sign up. No drop-in or drop-off assistance at these locations.

*Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way S.W., 206-733-9125

Through Monday, April 13

3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday

*Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. S., 206-684-7455

Through Saturday, April 11

10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday

Drop-off Tax Help

New for 2015, taxpayers can have their paperwork scanned by IRS-certified staff and volunteers and not wait until the return is fully processed. Instead, the return is prepared remotely and completed tax returns can be picked up within a week. No drop-in or appointment-based assistance at these locations.

*High Point Branch, 3411 S.W. Raymond St., 206-684-7454

Through Sunday, March 29

1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

*University Branch, 5009 Roosevelt Way N.E., 206-684-4063

Through Saturday, March 28

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Saturday