AARP GEARING UP FOR TAX-AIDE PROGRAM

POPLAR BLUFF -- The American Association of Retired Persons TAX-AIDE program, which offers free tax-preparation assistance to low-income and older people in need, will be conducted for the 26th consecutive year in the region.

Irma Miller of Poplar Bluff, associate district coordinator of the program, said classes for volunteer tax-preparers will be held Jan. 10-14 at the Savings and Loan Building, Sixth and Pine in Poplar Bluff, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Volunteers must pass an open-book test. They are reimbursed for travel and are provided insurance while doing tax business.

The service will be offered Feb. 1 through April 15, she said. Taxpayers wanting assistance should take their 1993 form booklets, a copy of last year's federal and state tax returns, information concerning their 1993 income, and their 1993 property tax statement or rent receipts to a place where the service is offered, said Miller.

She said assistance will be offered with federal and state income taxes and tax property tax, formerly circuit breakers, to seniors in nursing and boarding homes or are homebound and to low-income people under 60.

Miller said assistance will not be offered with tax forms for businesses, self-employed people and farmers.

Counties served through the Poplar Bluff office are Dent, Butler, Carter, Iron, Scott, Dunklin, Stoddard, Wayne, Pemiscot, Madison, Bollinger, Ripley, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, Reynolds and New Madrid.

For more information or to arrange for a site for the service call Miller at 314-686-5471, or write her at 1026 Franklin, Poplar Bluff, Mo. 63901.