DEAR SUN SPOTS: Many of your readers will be seeking help in the preparation of Maine income tax returns in order to claim the Maine Property Tax Fairness Credit. The state’s program is more complicated this year, and SeniorsPlus will not be able to provide help with this credit as in the past.

AARP Tax-Aide and LA Cash Coalition will be preparing federal and Maine income tax returns for free again this tax season. We will begin making appointments on Jan. 15.

The telephone number for appointments at the Lewiston Armory is 513-3170 for AARP and 513-3160 for LA Cash. Free AARP tax preparation is also available at the Norway Public Library (333-6448) and the Ricker Library in Poland (998-3166).

In light of the Maine PTFC program and the additional challenges posed by the Affordable Care Act, we expect to have an extremely busy tax season. We will do our best to accommodate as many taxpayers as possible.

We would like your readers to be aware that although the credit is larger this year, some people who qualified for the credit in the past may not qualify this year. This is especially true for people who live in subsidized housing.

For readers having questions about the Maine Property Tax Fairness Credit, the Maine Revenue Services taxpayer assistance phone number is 207-626-8475. — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots gets a good many questions about the Property Tax Fairness Credit,  which replaced the old “Circuit Breaker” program. The new program is more complicated than the old one and requires applicants to file income tax.

This confuses many seniors, as those who have Social Security as their only income are often not required to file income tax. However, if they want to apply for the credit they now must do so.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: How little are the yearly wages so we do not have to file a yearly report? — No Name, Lewiston

ANSWER: Sun Spots guesses that when No Name says “yearly report” she means tax return. If so, this excerpt from turbotax.com may help her, and others: 

“Not everyone is required to file an income tax return each year. Generally, if your total income for the year doesn’t exceed the standard deduction plus one exemption and you aren’t a dependent to another taxpayer, then you don’t need to file a federal tax return. The amount of income that you can earn before you are required to file a tax return also depends on the type of income, your age and your filing status.

“All taxpayers are eligible to claim a standard deduction, and if not the dependent of another taxpayer, then one exemption as well. The standard tax deduction and exemption amounts are fixed by the government before the tax filing season and generally increase for inflation each year.

“Since your income that is equal to or less than the sum of the exemption and standard deduction is not taxable, the IRS doesn’t require you to file a return in years your income doesn’t exceed that sum. When determining whether you need to file a return, you don’t include tax-exempt income. In 2014 for example, if you are under age 65 and single, you must file a tax return if you earn $10,150 or more, which is the sum of the 2014 standard deduction for a single taxpayer plus one exemption.”

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I, too, wanted a 62 cent mug for Dunkin’ Donuts and found the stores do not have them. What the reader wanted to know is where to get the mugs. I was told to go to SeniorsPlus, which is on Falcon Street in Lewiston, as they have the mugs. Perhaps you can find out the hours they are open. — Celeste Yakawonis, celyak@megalink.net

ANSWER: Sun Spots checked with SeniorsPlus. They do NOT have those coffee mugs. Sorry. You’ll need to keep watching Dunkin’ Donuts ads for another opportunity.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Knights Before Christmas Toy Drives for children in foster care sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 8742 Auburn, 106 Lewiston and 5515 Norway would like to thank all the organizations, businesses and especially the public, who helped us make this another successful year.

With your generosity, we were able to help more than 250 children in foster care in the tri-county area again this year. Our appreciation and heartfelt thank-you goes out to all of you. — Roger Roy, warden, District 11, Knights of Columbus

GOOD NEWS FROM THE EDITORS RE “LUANN”

We’ve heard you and will bring Luann back to the Sun Journal. Look for the week’s worth of “Luann” strips in Saturday’s edition, and she’ll soon be back on the daily comics page.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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