On Tuesday, Jan. 16, Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, which helps low-income workers claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, begins offering free tax preparation services in Greer, Harmon and Jackson counties for families and individuals with household incomes of less than $39,000.

The volunteers prepare basic federal and state income tax returns and will counsel clients to make sure they claim tax benefits they are eligible for, especially the Earned Income Tax Credit. When the tax returns are completed they will be filed electronically, which will shorten the time it takes for Southwest clients to receive refunds.

Last year, Southwest Community Action Group volunteers completed tax returns for more than 130 families who received more than $200,000 in tax refunds from the U.S. Treasury.

To make an appointment call the following numbers between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.:

Monday; Altus, Lincoln Head Start at 482-3080; Tuesday; Altus, Wilson Head Start at 482-2720; Wednesday; Altus, Bailey Head Start at 482-7739; Thursday; Granite Head Start at 535-4571; Thursday; Hollis Head Start at 688-9177, times: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday; Mangum Head Start at 782-3712, times: 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Those taking advantage of the service will need to bring a photo I.D. for you and your spouse, family members Social Security cards, all W-2 forms, all 1099 forms, total payments made for child care expenses as well as the name, address, employer identification number or SSN of the provider, any form 1098 (tuition statements), your checkbook or bank statements if you wish to direct deposit your refund, any correspondence with the IRS and a copy of your prior year return.

For more information, call Virginia Goskey, RSVP director, at 482-4141.