[Libs-Or] tax forms

[Leah Griffith]

We find tax forms less of a burden than they used to be as more and more people are doing it online.   I think it is a service we provide like helping people use our computers to apply for jobs or even figure out how to use their Kindle with Library2Go.

We're only getting federal forms and we end up helping people download the state forms, so in many ways having the forms in  house is easier as they can help  themselves.

And on the other hand, we do get tax money back from those filings, via LSTA, Ready to Read, etc.

We have gotten in the habit on our phone message (we have a short phone message before people hit 1 to talk to someone etc.) of adding in January, "Tax forms have not arrived yet, when they have, this message will be changed" or something to that effect.  That takes care of those phone calls.

Leah
******************************
Leah M. Griffith
Director,   Newberg Public Library     503-537-1256


From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Jane Tucker
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2014 11:12 AM
To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] tax forms

Kudos to all the reference librarians and front line staff who help the public with tax forms.  In my administrator's opinion, the IRS and Oregon State need to put dollars in my local budget equivalent to the true cost of using local staff time to do their work and deal with the effects their policies create.

Jane Tucker, MS, CPLA
Director, Astoria Public Library
450 Tenth Street
Astoria, Oregon  97103
503.325.7323
www.astorialibrary.org<http://www.astorialibrary.org>


From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of dan cawley
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2014 10:59 AM
To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: [Libs-Or] tax forms

our telephone starts ringing in late january with patrons asking when the tax forms will arrive.

because we are the only location in an eighteen mile radius with free, actual,  forms, they are in steady demand.

for many, this provides an annual, once-a-year, pilgrimage to the library.

we also have small (1" x 2") cards with #800 telephone numbers for IRS and ODR which we distribute to patrons.

i've contacted TFOP twice...we are still waiting for the master notebook with all the forms to arrive.

(at least the IRS has improved the navigability of their website.  it used to be impenetrable.)

from this perspective, it's my opinion tax forms are a necessary public library service.

dan cawley
seaside public library
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