Some library patrons will have to pay for IRS tax forms this year

Boulder City Library staff have received dozens of calls and visits from residents seeking information on federal tax preparation forms, which last year were widely available at the library.

To their disappointment, they’ve been told that the Internal Revenue Service has limited the amount of free forms it will provide to places that participate in the Tax Forms Outlet Program, which means some customers will have to pay to get copies.

“A lot of them expect it from the IRS. The fact (is) that they want to pay their taxes, but they’re not making it easy for them,” said Samantha Evangelho, technology specialist at the library.

Places such as public libraries and post offices were also not expecting the announcement, which came Jan. 9, a year earlier than originally planned. Congress cut the IRS budget and its programs in its 2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill.

Retirees in Boulder City often pick up tax preparation forms from the library beginning in mid-February, and many of them are “not interested in going online,” where forms will be more widely available, said library Director Lynn Schofield-Dahl.

Participating locations will be limited on the forms they will be able to offer. Forms 1040 and 1040A will be delivered as ordered, the IRS announced, and 1040EZ forms will be limited to 75 percent of the 1040A order. The actual numbers of forms to be received in the Las Vegas area weren’t immediately known.

Many other popular forms, including instruction booklets, will be available only for copying, which is usually 10 cents a page in libraries.

“We want to honor our commitment to you by providing some key products, but we cannot deliver nearly what we have in the past,” the IRS said in a statement.

This will be a one-time order, Schofield-Dahl said of the forms the library is getting, noting that it often runs out and has to place a second order.

Although forms won’t be handed out until February, Boulder City taxpayers began calling the branch in January, Schofield-Dahl said.

Boulder City is known as a retirement community with many residents not being tech-savvy, she said.

“We have a lot of people who just don’t have a computer or who are not computer savvy,” Evangelho said.

Taxpayers can also get free forms by ordering them on the phone, but budget cuts have also increased wait times, according to an IRS taxpayer advocate report released in January. Of the 100 million phone calls they’re projecting to receive, only about 50 percent will be answered. Phone wait times are estimated at 30 minutes.

Those who aren’t tech-savvy or want to wait on the phone can get free tax preparation help. The Boulder City Library will have student volunteers on site to guide and help with tax preparations.

Las Vegas and Henderson libraries will offer guidance and offer free tax-preparation programs for those who qualify through AARP. For instructions on appointments, which begin today for the Henderson branches, call an area branch.

North Las Vegas libraries have not participated in the tax form program but will instruct people on their options and also offer copies for 10 cents a page.

On Jan. 30, the IRS announced that it is working with nonprofits to hold 12,000 free tax preparation sites around the nation that will benefit the elderly and low-income families. More information is available at www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers.

“The decision to reduce the number of tax products available to our TFOP (Tax Forms Outlet Program) partners was not made lightly. We realize this decision is not ideal and we understand it may impact you and your customers,” the IRS said.

All tax forms can be downloaded at IRS.gov/forms, ordered through the mail at IRS.gov/orderforms or by phone at 1-800-829-3676.

Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites.