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Tax help still available during shutdown

News Photo by Crystal Nelson The Thunder Bay Accounting office along U.S.-23 South is pictured on Tuesday.

ALPENA — Local accountants continue to file tax forms for their clients, although the way those services are offered have changed under the governor’s stay-at-home order.

Accounting offices, such as Thunder Bay Accounting and Johnson CPA and Co., have mostly closed their doors to the public, but continue to prepare tax returns for clients who leave paperwork with the office.

Thunder Bay Accounting owner Joyce Brilinski said her accountants still meet with clients for whom they provide payroll services.

Financial services are considered essential services under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

As of Tuesday, nearly 19,000 cases and 845 deaths have been reported statewide. One case has been reported in Presque Isle County, while zero cases have been confirmed in Alpena, Montmorency, and Alcona counties.

Although the federal and state governments have extended the filing deadline for personal and business taxes until July 15, many clients want to get taxes prepared by the traditional April 15 deadline, Shanna Johnson, certified public accountant and owner of Johnson CPA, said.

Johnson is still able to help clients with their tax returns if they’re willing to drop off paperwork or send documents to her via mail or email, but she said clients who want to file their taxes in person will have to wait until May.

“It will get done faster if you drop it off than waiting to sit with me to prepare it,” she said. “We’ve been trying to encourage people to do that or throw it in the mail or email their information to us.”

Brilinski, of Thunder Bay Accounting, said the firm is “busier than ever” now that many of its clients need the money from their refunds. She said the volume of clients dropping off tax information means it could take up to seven days before tax returns are completed.

Meanwhile, many senior citizens who planned to utilize the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program have had their appointments canceled, according to BJ Sander, program manager for the Alpena Senior Citizens Center.

The senior center was supposed to host the AARP’s free tax service this year, but Sander had to call seniors to cancel their appointments when Whitmer’s order forced the center to close. The AARP website says the tax service is suspended “until further notice.”

In the meantime, Sander recommends seniors make other plans.

“I’ve advised them to not wait,” she said. “I have suggested to them to try to find someone else to do their taxes, because I don’t not know — and the AARP did not know — what was going to happen.”

Other businesses, such as the H&R Block office on Bagley Street, have temporarily closed. A sign posted on the door of the office directed customers to call 989-356-1532.

A statement provided by the company said H&R Block understands millions of households are relying on federal stimulus payments — Congress has authorized up to $1,200 checks for most Americans to help with the economic fallout of the pandemic — and tax refunds.

“As stimulus payment information is based on recent tax returns, we are ready to help people with their 2019 return, and have several measures in place for everyone’s well-being, including options to drop off documents at a tax office, upload your documents to your tax professional or call to make other arrangements with an office,” the H&R Block statement said.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.

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