TAX HELP FOR SENIOR CITIZENS-Charles R.
Walker, left, offers tax help to Warren H. Huffstetler
as a part of a special program conducted by the AARP Chapter at Kings Mountain Depot for senior citi-
zens.
Plenty Of Tax Filing Help
Available For Area Citizens
Tax offices are the busiest places in town this week
as citizens try to beat the April income tax deadline.
Charlie Walker, who helps out in the tax-aide de-
partment at the local Senior Center at the Depot, said
that 20 senior citizens took advantage of the Tax Aide
program for senior citizens sponsored by AARP last
week and that many more are scheduling appointments
for April 6 between 2 and 4 p.m. at the Depot Center.
Through the Tax-Aide program, volunteers provide
free personal income tax assistance to older people.
Each year, according to Walker, who is an officer in
the local AARP chapter, volunteers help more than a
million taxpayers nationwide. Currently, there are
more than 10,000 Tax-Aide sites nationwide, located
in senior centers, libraries, community centers and oth-
er convenient locations.
Who is eligible for the Tax-Aide program? The Tax-
Aide program helps low and moderate income older
taxpayers prepare their personal income taxes. The
volunteer counselors are trained , in cooperation with
the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, to complete basic
tax forms. People with complex tax returns will be ad-
vised to seek professional tax assistance.
What papers should you bring? Walker says a copy
of last year's income tax returns, any W-2 forms you
have received showing your income from working or
all pensions paid to you; form SSA-1099 which shows
the Social Security paid you; all 1099 forms you have
received, which show the interest and/or dividends that
your investments have earned; records of any other in-
come you have received; and receipts or canceled
checks for any of your medical/dental expenses and
any contributions you have made to charities.
....»Since April 15:falls. ona Saturday, Vera Becker of-
the local office of H&R Block reminds taxpayers that
deadline for filing 1988 taxes is April 17. Tax-prepar-
ers in the local office located in The Herald building
on Canterbury Road say that 65% of their clients use
the rapid refund electronic filing method to receive
their refunds within 10 days. This year the IRS restric-
tions require that a client seeking a rapid refund should
furnish a 1988 IRS mailer label or copy of last year's
taxes, a 1987 tax return, a picture for identification
plus original social security card or major credit card
and a telephone number. A husband and wife filing a
joint return for rapid refund must come into the office
together to file for the instant refund. Mrs. Becker,
who has prepared taxes for five years with H&R
Block, said that only one client has had to use a pass-
port picture for identification, which is also permissi-
ble.
Long lines have been eliminated at the local H&R
Block office this year due to scheduling of clients by
appointment. Mrs. Becker said that some taxpayers
have their tax returns prepared at other offices and
bring them to H&R Block for the instant return. "We
run a check tape and then must have full identification
of the client to process the request,” she said.
Depending on the complexity of tax returns, Mrs.
Becker said the staff can accommodate the client
quickly since appointments are scheduled. Other mem-
bers of the local H&R Block staff are Ralph Young,
office manager; Jeanette Adams, Danny Sparkman,
Gladys Price and Sherry Voris.
Mrs. Becker said that IRS restrictions are much
more strict this year as far as rapid refund applications
are concerned. "About 65% of our customers use this
method especially if they are expecting a refund. Many
of our customers wait until the last minute if they don't
expect a refund on their returns,” she said.
Betty Hullender, who has operated her own tax ser-
vice from her home on Cleveland Avenue since 1970,
said people built her business when she started work-
ing as a tax preparer for Evelyn and Fred Drewes in
1960. Her goal is to be able to prepare the returns
while the customer waits even though she is a one-
woman office. Mrs. Hullender is installing computers
and and she anticipates by next year at taxtime to be
able to save the taxpayers money and herself time.
Business has been brisk at the Hullender home but
Betty expects many customers to line up near the April
deadline. With the option of electronic filing, some of
her customers came to have returns filled out in late
January. Mrs. Hullender said she has kept the costs
down for customers even with the addition of comput-
ers
Local tax preparers say it may be too late for tax-
payers to simplify the process this year. However, if
you start now to set up a good method of record-keep-
-ing, next year willbe easier. Here are a few important
tips from the Tax-Aide Program Department of the
AARP:
Keep records as they do in a business office. Use a
compact file or envelopes in a drawer. It takes less
time than scrounging in pockets and through closets to
find your receipts. Mark the files simply as "income"
and "deductions." Or divide your deductions into
"charity", "taxes", "medical expenses," etc.
When you balance your monthly bank statement and
pay your bills, take an extra couple minutes to file
away those important checks and receipts into appro-
priate tax categories.
A canceled check to your local pharmacy is not ade-
quate to prove a medical deduction. Many pharmacies
sell toothpaste, cigarettes, and face powder. More and
more pharmacies will keep a running tab for you of
what you spend on prescription medicine during the
year. Check with your pharmacy to find out if they of-
fer this service. Keep a notebook in the glove depart-
ment of your car. Write down the mileage to and from
the doctor's office, doing charity work or keeping busi-
ness appointments.
Cleveland County Unemployment Rate Increases
Reflecting normal seasonal fluctuations, Cleveland
County unemployment rates increased during January
from 3.6 to 4.1 percent.
Only four counties in the state experienced unem-
ployment rates of more than 10 percent, down from
seven counties in January 1988.
Employment Security Commission of North
Carolina figures released today show that 52 counties
had January unemployment rates at or below 5 per-
cent, a figure ESC analysts regard as near full-employ-
Stock
ment. In January 1988, only 36 counties had rates of 5
percent or less. The county with the lowest rate was
Orange at 2.5 percent. The county with the highest rate
was Graham at 27.4 percent.
Clveland County has a civilian labor force of 44,940
with 1,860 unemployed or 4.1 percent. In December
1988 43,340 Clevelanders were employed.
In January, unemployment was up from 2.9 to 3.7
percent in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N. C./S.
C. area, according to the ESC.
From Page 12-A
enhance the company's strategic
objective of growth by way of ac-
quisitions as well as through inter-
nal development.
Messrs. Paul J. Powers, Thomas
J. Travers and Don E. Tucker were
re-elected members of the Board
while John E. Peyton, Senior Vice
President and Group Executive of
Federal-Mogul Corporation, was
elected for his first term, replacing
Robert E. Williams who has re-
tired.
Yes
Twice
April 18
No Tax Increase!
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Wednesday, March 15, 1989-THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Page 13A
Girl Scouts Are Re-Cycling
Girl Scouts are at it again - recy-
cling, that is. Since the beginning
of Girl Scouting, one of the pro-
gram elements has been to improve
the environment. For the younger
Girl Scouts, this translates to
"leave a place better than you
found it" and "don't litter." Back in
the early "60s an Eco Action patch
was designed and given to Girl
Scouts who completed the environ-
mental actions requirements neces-
sary to earn the patch.
In 1987 Girl Scouts joined
forces with Gastonia's Clean City
Committee and for two years has
taken part in the Great Girl Scout
Bag-A-Thon. This effort was so
successful that it was recognized
by the Gastonia City Council and
the Pioneer Girl Scout Council re-
ceived a commendation by the na-
tional Keep America Beautiful
Committee.
In an effort to increase public
Girls State
Names Needed
Wanted: Names of former Girls
State citizens who have represent-
ed the American Legion Auxiliary
at Tar Heel Girls State.
Unit 155 President Myrtle
Christenson is looking for the
names and addresses of all young
women who have attended the
Auxiliary Girls State program so
the Unit can honor them and so
that they can be invited to attend
the 50th year celebration during
Tar Heel Girls State at UNC-G in
June.
"We need to put together a mail-
ing list so these women can be in-
cluded in the Golden anniversary
celebration,” said Mrs.
Christenson.
To list your Girls State citizens
in the anniversary book and take
part in the festivities call Mrs.
Christenson at 739-3785; Arlene
Barrett at 739-8072 or Lib Stewart
at 739-7496.
In Kansas
Army Pvt. Steven L. Harris, son
of Emory G. and Muriel H. Harris
of 1063 Riddle Mill Road, Clover,
S.C., has arrived for duty at Fort
Riley, Kansas.
Harris is an equipment records
and parts specialist with the 701st
Support Battalion.
His wife, Diana, is the daughter
of James F. and Barbara P. Chaffee
of 315 Fulton St., Kings Mountain.
The soldier is a 1985 graduate of
Clover High School.
awareness for the need for recy-
cling, the Recycle Rosie game was
designed and used at the 1988 Fish
Camp Jam. The game is simple -
put cans through Rosie's mouth and
win a prize. The aluminum cans
are then recycled. The idea behind
the game is that we can help pro-
tect the earth by producing less
waste.
To further promote the idea that
recycling is a program whose time
has come, this year, Girl Scouts are
being urged to collect enough alu-
minum cans to send themselves to
Girl Scout camp. Recycling centers
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in Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln and
Rutherford counties are cooperat-
ing in this program emphasis. Girl
Scouts can collect cans to be used
to offset day camp and resident
camp fees.
Girl Scouts want to protect our
world and they're doing it. You'll
see them at the Great Girl Scout
Bag-A-Thon, taking part in the
Adopt-A-Highway program, and
collecting cans for camp.
Ultimately, Girl Scouts would like
to see each of our counties devel-
op, comprehensive recycling pro-
grams. It's good stewardship!
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ub
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