CONTACT:  Julie Willmot
(609) 278-7137

TRENTON, N.J. - Many sites throughout Mercer County will offer free income tax preparation assistance to help residents prepare and file their 2012 taxes, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes said.

The deadline for filing 2012 tax returns for both state and federal taxes is April 15, 2013. Below is a list of sites where free income tax preparation assistance is being provided. Service is offered from early February through mid-April unless otherwise noted.

The AARP Foundation provides Tax-Aides to assist people with low to moderate incomes with 2012 tax preparation at Mercer County Connection, libraries and other sites. For more information, visit www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/.

Mercer County Connection, 957 Route 33, Hamilton – Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. By appointment only; call (609) 890-9800.

Ewing Branch, Mercer County Library System, 61 Scotch Road, West Trenton – Wednesdays from 2 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. By appointment only; call (609) 882-3148.

Hamilton Senior Center, 409 Cypress Lane, Hamilton – Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. By appointment only; call (609) 890-3686.

Lawrence Branch, Mercer County Library System, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence – Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m. By appointment only; call (609) 882-9246.

Lawrence Senior Center, 30 East Darrah Lane, Lawrence – Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. By appointment only; call (609) 844-7048.

Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau St., Princeton – Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. English/Spanish bilingual assistance. Walk-ins welcome; call (609) 688-0881 for required paperwork.

Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon St., Princeton – Mondays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. By appointment only; call (609) 924-9529, ext. 220.

Princeton Senior Resource Center, Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton St., Princeton – Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. By appointment only; call (609) 924-7108.

Robbinsville Branch, Mercer County Library System, 42 Allentown-Robbinsville Road, Robbinsville – Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. By appointment only; call (609) 259-2150.

West Windsor Senior Center, 271 Clarksville Road, Princeton Junction – Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. By appointment only; call (609) 799-9068.

The VITA Program generally offers free tax help to people who make $50,000 or less and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in local communities. For more information, visit www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers or www.earnedincometaxcredit.org.

Boys & Girls Club of Trenton, 212 Centre St., Trenton – Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. English/Spanish bilingual assistance. By appointment only; call (609) 392-3191.

Catholic Charities of Trenton, 132 N. Warren St., Trenton -- Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays from 2 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays (Feb. 9, March 16 and April 13) from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Walk-ins welcome; call (609) 394-3202 for required paperwork.

Crisis Ministry of Mercer County, 121 E. Hanover St., Trenton -- Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. English/Arabic/Chinese/Spanish. Walk-ins welcome; call (609) 396-9355 for required paperwork.

Hamilton Township Free Public Library, 1 Justice Samuel A. Alito Way, Mercerville – Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Walk-ins welcome; call (609) 581-4060 for required paperwork.

Hickory Corner Branch, Mercer County Library System, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor – face-to-face meetings with tax preparers on Friday, Feb. 15, and Saturday, April 6, between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. By appointment only; call (609) 448-1330. Or, residents can drop off tax documents on Friday, Feb. 8, or Monday, April 1, for processing and pick them up one week later. Call branch for required paperwork.

Hightstown Memorial Branch, Mercer County Library System, 114 Franklin St., Hightstown – face-to-face meetings with tax preparers on Monday, Feb. 11, at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., and Monday, March 18, at 9:30 a.m. By appointment only; call (609) 448-1474. Or, residents can drop off tax documents on Monday, Feb. 4, or Monday, March 11, for processing and pick them up one week later. Call branch for required paperwork.

Rider University, 2083 Lawrence Road (Route 206), Lawrence – Tuesdays (Feb. 12, 19, 26 and March 5) from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursdays (Feb. 14, 21, 28 and March 7) from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Saturdays (Feb. 16, 23, March 2, 9) from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday sessions and the first three Saturday sessions will be held in BLC-14, the conference room next to the bookstore in the Student Center. Thursday sessions and the final Saturday session will be held in NAB-204, conference room 204 in North Hall. Walk-ins welcome; call (609) 896-5000 and ask for information desk.

Twin Rivers Branch, Mercer County Library System, 276 Abbington Drive, East Windsor – face-to-face meetings with tax preparers on Friday, March 1, between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.. By appointment only; call (609) 443-1880. Or, residents can drop off tax documents on Monday, Feb. 25, for processing and pick them up one week later. Call branch for required paperwork.

United Financial Empowerment Center, 3131 Princeton Pike, Building 4, Suite 113
Lawrenceville – Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. through March 26. English/Spanish bilingual assistance. Walk-ins welcome; call (609) 896-1912 for required paperwork.