Know and Go: Those interested in the service or who want more information can call 787-6249 to set up an appointment. Appointments will be available starting Feb. 1, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the River City Bank in the Safeway Shopping center.

Lincoln residents who want help filing their tax returns should look no further than the AARP Tax-Aide program.

Fifteen volunteer tax preparers will be available to help Lincoln residents file their taxes from Feb. 1 through April 15, according to Sherri Fincher, a volunteer tax preparer.

Fincher said all of the volunteer tax preparers are required to take a test and be IRS certified in order to participate.

The program has been available in Lincoln since the 2001 tax-filing season. Volunteers filed 1,176 tax returns last year, according to Gary Steer, who is also a volunteer preparer.

Steer said the service is “free of charge for low to middle income tax payers, with special attention to those ages 60 and older.” Assistance will be given for filing both state and federal tax returns.

The program is sponsored by the AARP foundation, IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board.

Lincoln’s program has received a cell phone for scheduling appointments from the Community Foundation of Lincoln and two laptops from the Lincoln Hills Foundation for filing taxes.

The tax returns will be prepared and filed at River City Bank.

“We use their space and it’s the best place to do it,” Fincher said. “They take care of us and the people coming in.”

Residents interested in the service should call to schedule an appointment, Fincher said. Callers will be told what documents to bring.

Each appointment is allotted 50 minutes and more complex returns could take longer than that, Fincher said.

Both volunteer tax preparers said a tax return is required to be checked over by another preparer and then signed off by both.

Fincher said she enjoys volunteering as a tax preparer because “it’s how we give back to the community,” and likes helping residents get back as much money as possible.

“Doing taxes is like playing detective, trying to find everything you can for them,” Fincher said. “Our whole idea is to get money back for you.”