CHERAW — Area residents needing help preparing and filing their personal income tax returns with the IRS can find it through the AARP Tax-Aide program.

First United Methodist Church in Cheraw is hosting an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site for this year’s tax season.

Van Pate, a local coordinator for AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, said tax preparation help is available to anyone, free of charge, with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and who have low to moderate-income.

There are no age or income limits, and AARP membership is not required. Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to make sure they know about and understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code.

Pate said the site is taking appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays with appointments at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The idea is to provide free tax services for people who really should not be paying a fee to get their taxes prepared.

“Most of the returns that we do are pretty straightforward,” he said.

Volunteers go through a lot of training.

This is Pate’s third tax season. He started in 2020 and the season was going well with preparations being done at the library in Florence. Then COVID-19 shut things down and they had to do returns virtually.

Last year, they were 100% virtual. This year, it is hybrid model.

For more information, including how to schedule an appointment and which documents to bring, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide. Appointments are available through April 13.

Those participating need to complete a pre-appointment packet at Marian Wright Edelman Public Library.

Pate said there is letter that explains how the return will be prepared, a list of items that they might need to bring, and a questionnaire that takes 20 to 25 minutes to complete.

“It is very important for people to fill that out before they come,” he said.

Once they arrive with the packet at their appointment, it will take an hour to an hour and half to prepare the return.

To reach a local volunteer, call 843-639-3045 or send an email to cherawtaxaide@gmail.com.