Four of AARP Foundation's free Tax Aide locations in Carbon County are packed, but the fifth - Palmerton - is empty.

Joe Germy, the district coordinator for AARP Tax Aide, said he has five or six tax assistants waiting to help people each week on Mondays at the 501 Delaware Ave. site, but no clients.When a Palmerton resident showed up at one of the other sites, he knew there was a problem."I'm just not getting anyone in Palmerton," he said.This is the first year for the Palmerton site, he said. It's at the Senior Center in the ambulance building.All of the Tax Aide sites are open from 9 a.m. to noon one day a week.LocationsThe other locations and the day of the week include:• Lehighton - Tuesday, Recreation Center, 243 S. Eighth St.• Beaver Meadows - Wednesday, borough hall, 100 E. Broad St.• Penn Forest Township - Wednesday, township hall, 2010 Route 903, Jim Thorpe.• Gilbert - Thursday, Salem UCC, 117 Corner Road.No appointment is needed, Germy said. People are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.Although, he had to confess, assistants didn't get to some people at the busy locations, Germy said. There just wasn't enough time to see all of them."If they come in and it's more than I can handle, I reschedule them for the next week," he said.The Tax Aide centers assist middle and low income taxpayers of all ages. They help them file their 2016 federal, state and local tax returns, the state property tax or rent rebate applications. Special attention is given to taxpayers age 60 and older, Germy said.Free preparationThe free preparation assistance is completed by certified AARP TaxAide volunteers on computers via E-filing, he said. The assistants have to pass the federal tax preparers test before they can assist people."It's free. Did I mention to you that it's free?" Germy said, wanting to make sure that was mentioned.There are some things people need to bring with them to the centers.According to AARP's website, these include:• Copies of tax return(s) from 2015• All applicable income information: W-2 forms from each employer, unemployment compensation statements, brokerage statements• Social Security cards or other official documentation for each person listed on the tax return and/or Railroad Retirement (RRB-1099 Tier 1 &2) information.• Real estate tax receipts• Any information about deductions• Health insurance documents received from the government insurance marketplace, employer and/or an insurance provider pertaining to 2016• Photo identification is required for all taxpayers.• Checkbook is needed if any refunds are to be direct deposited.Taxpayers may also need to bring:• A list of all out-of-pocket medical expenses with receipts and/or canceled checks for health insurance payments, a health savings account, long term care insurance payments, or bills for home improvements such as ramps and railings for people with disabilities• Round trip miles driven to/from medical facilities (hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, etc.)• Mortgage interest statement. Documentation of mortgage or credit card debt canceled or forgiven by a commercial lender• Documentation of the sale or purchase of a house in 2016, a car, energy efficient items for the house. Or a first-time home buyers credit certificate.• Receipts of donations to charitable contributions• Dependent care provider information (name, employer ID, or Social Security number), child care costs, canceled checks for secondary education expenses, tuition and student loan interest• Social security number for person receiving alimony paymentsCall 1-888-227-7669 or go online to

www.AARP.org/findtaxhelp.