With the deadline for filing federal income tax returns approaching, the Pioneer Library System has multiple resources available to help residents in its communities navigate through tax season. This year, personal income tax returns must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 15.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission has not made physical forms available to libraries in 2020. However, forms and publications may be accessed online here.

Federal forms also may be accessed online through the Internal Revenue Service website. Click the homepage with links to the complete list of forms and instruction booklets.

Each PLS library has resources for printing forms and/or accessing online tax forms. Standard charges for printing or photocopying apply. Black and white prints or copies are $0.15 per page. Color prints or copies are $0.30 per page.

Libraries are unable to install personal tax software onto library computers and library staff members are not certified in tax preparation and are not able to answer questions about the actual preparation of the forms. However, there are some options for free tax assistance offered in two PLS libraries. Community volunteers will be onsite at these times to assist in tax preparation:

The Moore Public Library will host Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays from Feb. 1 through April 15.

Norman Public Library Central hosts sessions on three nights a week. The AARP Tax Aide service is offered from 5 to 9 p.m. on Mondays, from Feb. 10 through April 13. And Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, from Feb. 5 through Wednesday, April 15.

These services generally are available for taxpayers with an income of less than $56,000, with volunteers helping taxpayers to prepare basic federal and state returns.

Find more VITA tax preparation sites locally online here. And more local AARP tax help locations can be accessed here.

More resources are available as well for those preparing their own taxes through this list of independent companies. These resources generally are available for taxpayers making $69,000 or less.