The local Retired and Senior Volunteer Program members have had their IRS training and will begin processing tax returns for those who are 60 or over in age and those whose income is less than $49,000 annually.
The service is free to those who qualify.
“We will begin preparing tax forms on Jan. 30 at the Poarch Creek Indian site,” Charles Smith, volunteer coordinator for RSVP, said. “We have three sites in the county where people can come to get their tax forms filled out.”
Smith said some of the volunteers have been working on the project for several years, while others are first-timers.
The free tax service will be available in Brewton from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday each week at the Brewton Public Library.
There is no site in Flomaton, but on Jan. 28, a Super Senior Saturday from 8 a.m until noon will be held at the Flomaton Public Library.
“We would like to be able to man an office in Flomaton, but we need more volunteers,” Smith said. “This program will help seniors know what is available for them in Escambia County.”
Volunteers will help people who seek the services by checking for necessary paperwork before getting started.
All volunteers are required to be certified by IRS officials. The organization has a good name for itself and everything is done according to the IRS, Smith said.
“We are here for those  over the age of 60 whose income is less than $49,000 annually,” Smith said. “Last year we did 350 returns and received over $97,000 in refunds.We make appointments, but will take walk-ins as we can.”
Smith said the process takes about an hour.
“We do E-files too,” he added. “We are like most other organizations now; we will eventually do away with paper forms entirely.”
For more information, go online to www.IRS.gov. If you would like to be a volunteer, Smith said there is a place for more volunteers for various projects in the area. RSVP operates under the umbrella of the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission/Area Agency on Aging.