Getting your taxes done with the Library!

It has been said that only two things are certain…death and taxes. It is that time of year when we find ourselves leveling up with Uncle Sam and facing that April 18th deadline for filing our taxes. Let the library help you deal with some of the stress from tax season.

Step 1: Stop by the library to get your tax forms.
We have print forms for the state of Wisconsin and federal taxes. (As of the January 11th we have the state of Wisconsin tax forms, but are still waiting on the federal tax forms.) If we don’t have the specific form you need we can help you find them on the internet, or you check these links for your state or federal forms.

Step 2: Use library resources to help get your taxes done.
For anyone over 55 years of age AARP will be having tax preparation help seminars at the library. They will be from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm, on February 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, March 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, and April 4th, and 11th. This is a first come first serve seminar so please arrive early, and it is not guaranteed that everyone who shows up will receive help.

You can check titles like these to help you with your tax preparation:

Or you can look to the community for resources in helping you by dialing 211 or checking out Volunteer Assistance Programs.

La Casa de Esperanza´s VITA Program offers free tax help for low to moderate-income taxpayers who cannot prepare their own tax returns. It is a volunteer-based program. Volunteers are certified by IRS and receive free training (sponsored by various organizations) to prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country.

Call 262-547-0887 to make an appointment for tax preparation. One of their locations is Waukesha Technical College in Pewaukee.

Step 3: Know your options for filing your taxes.

Whether you are hiring a professional to file your taxes, or filing yourself, be educated on your filing options.

Filing yourself: You can always mail in your completed forms yourself, or if you want to file online, check out this IRS link to see if you qualify for these free filing options.

Hiring a professional: Hopefully by now you have a great accountant or reliable person to file your return. But if you don't you can check your reference by using our online subscription database, Reference USA. Login with your library card number and you can look up the business in the Yellowpages portion. If they are a listed business you can see information like any legal filings against them, large news stories, and competitors. Some businesses even have statics about size, amount of annual income, and credit standing.

Step 4: Celebrate you finished your taxes!

Good luck!

Need a tax deduction? Donate to the library!

If you have an excess of gently used items that are 3 years old or less including books, videogames, DVDs, audiobooks, or other resources, consider donating them to the library. (No VHS, beta, or cassette items please). Those items will get put to good use by either being added to the collection or being sold at the Friends of Mukwonago Community Library book sale. Those donations are also tax deductible.

We also have drives for certain items at different times of the year. Currently the library is looking for gently used children's books to use as Reading Challenge prizes. Some of the prizes can already be seen on display in the library. A big thank you to all of you that have donated!

How does the donation process work?

Anytime the library is open bring in your donation items to the circulation desk. Upon request a receipt of the donated value of the goods will be distributed to the donor. If it is a larger donation the creation of an itemized list will be considered for special occasions.

It is the responsibility of the donor to assess value of items being donated. For more information on item assessment value please reference the IRS's Publication 561 (4/2007) that gives an explanation on how to assess the value of donated items. If you have more questions about itemized deductions please speak with your tax preparer.

An, of course, donations of cash or checks are always most welcome, especially now when we are getting very close to meeting our fundraising goal for the capital campaign. We will send you a thank you letter with the amount of your donation included. For those donations please stop in while the library is open or send them to Attn: Director Nick Weber, 300 Washington Ave, Mukwonago, WI 53149. Or if you have any questions please call Nick Weber at 262-363-6411.

Thank you and good luck with Uncle Sam!