Dubuque’s Free Tax Preparation Site Swamped With Customers

By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

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By Jaime Sharer

Story Created: Feb 20, 2012 at 11:59 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 20, 2012 at 11:59 PM CDT

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Now that the income tax season is in full swing, many people are scrambling to schedule an appointment with their accountant and that service can be expensive.

But Operation New View in Dubuque prepares taxes for free. That community action agency is swamped right now with customers needing the free help.

For Tyson Alex Nyheim,19, getting his taxes prepared by a volunteer at Operation New View just makes sense.

Nyheim said, “It’s free. That’s the best part. Who doesn’t love something that is free?”

Nyheim works full time at a car wash, but doesn’t want to shell out the cash to pay an accounting firm. Directors here says he’s one of hundreds of people following a trend this year.

Operation New View’s Becky Jenkins said, “We’ve already surpassed, at the Operation New View site, the number we did all of last year. So it’s been crazy here. ”

At that location volunteers will prepare taxes for workers who makes less than $50,000 dollars per year. More and more people are taking advantage of the free program, but volunteers aren’t exactly sure why.

Nyheim said, “I’m not sure if it’s people want to get their taxes done right away this year or just more people want to come to the free sites.”

Either way, it’s busy. Nyheim says he’s lucky he got an appointment.

Nyheim said, “It’s always good to do it, you know what I mean? It’s good be aware of what is happening and where your money is going. ”

That’s money he’d prefer to keep in his own pocket.

Clients are required to book an appointment at most of the free tax preparation sites. Right now, the volunteers are booked out until at least March 15th.