Editor,

Tax season is officially over, and we can’t let it go by without thanking the AARP Tax-Aide volunteers who provided weeks of free tax assistance for individuals at Sno-Isle Libraries in Oak Harbor, Coupeville and the South Whidbey Senior Center.

This year, the 40 or so volunteers prepared 1,246 tax returns, an increase of about 3 percent over last year. Just under 58 percent of those returns were completed in Oak Harbor, more than 19 percent in Coupeville and 23 percent in Langley.

For 2013 returns that were filed electronically, earned income tax credit awarded to our residents totaled $186,825; refunds totaled $1,307,740 and balances due total was $342,931.

That’s a net total refund of $964,809 coming into our local economy.

Coordinator John Howard said the program would not be possible if the libraries did not provide free locations and wifi.

Thank you, AARP Tax-Aide volunteers.

For information or to volunteer with AARP Tax-Aide, log on to www.aarp.org/taxaide

Mary Campbell

Oak Harbor