Question: Are you sure the tax booklets at the library won’t be to take home? They had them before.
Answer: Yes, and you are not the only reader who has complained about changes Hawaii’s Department of Taxation is making in the distribution of instruction booklets for state income taxes. At public libraries, for example, the instruction booklets will be for reference or photocopying only; there won’t be enough hard copies for taxpayers to take home. A limited number of N-11 resident income tax forms (as opposed to instruction booklets) will be available to take home as usual.
We’ve heard from readers who said they don’t go to the neighborhood library to actually fill out their taxes, but simply to pick up tax documents and instruction booklets to take home. They go to their neighborhood branch because it’s closer than the tax office, which still has instruction booklets and forms to distribute. These documents also can be requested by phone and mailed to the taxpayer, although that is discouraged as a first option.
We’ve heard from other readers who resist the push toward e-filing by the IRS and the state Tax Department. With data breaches and scam attempts in the news, these readers prefer to do their taxes by hand and mail in the returns, rather than e-file.
As we reported Jan. 31 (808ne.ws/13119kline), part of the reason there are fewer hard copies to distribute this year is because bids for commercial printing were higher than expected, and the Tax Department’s usual commercial printer went out of business.
“As e-services increased and as commercial printing costs rose, we were not able to print and mail as many forms and instruction books as done in the past,” said Deborah Kwan, a spokeswoman for the Tax Department.
Paper forms and reference-desk instruction booklets are being distributed to Hawaii public libraries now, Kwan said. The materials include a letter instructing taxpayers how to e-file and how to get printed instructions.
“If folks go to the library wanting a printed instruction book, their options will be to 1) use the reference desk copy and do their taxes at the library; 2) use library resources to either photocopy or download/print a copy (see tax.hawaii.gov/forms); 3) go to a tax office and ask an employee for a printed instruction book; or 4) call the tax department to request an instruction book to be mailed to them,” Kwan said in an emailed response.
Q: Is photocopying at the library free? Or is it supposed to be?
A: No. “Copy machines are located at each of the 51 HSPLS public libraries. Fees for copying per page are displayed at each library. Patrons may be assessed an enhanced service fee of not less than 20 cents per page, and may also be assessed additional charges for color or special feature copying,” according to a notice on the website of the Hawaii State Public Library System.
Q: Does the DOE hire outside Hawaii? I would like to encourage my grandson to come home.
A: Yes. Hawaii’s Department of Education recruits teachers at job fairs throughout the country. DOE recruiters were in Indianapolis last week and will be in other cities from mid-March to mid-April. Your grandson can find the information at 808ne.ws/doerecruit.
Mahalo
Mahalo to Wendy, a shopper at Costco Hawaii Kai. I lost track of my older sister, who went to search for her favorite snack. When I saw her in the checkout line, Wendy, who was next in line, had already paid for my sister’s item. Wendy probably saw my sister digging through her purse for a Costco membership card (which I had). It was very kind and generous of Wendy to help my sister. — Raymond
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
