Starting the first week of February 2016 and continuing through the week of the April tax deadline, Beaufort County residents can receive free tax preparation assistance at any of the five branches of the Beaufort County Library System. Tax preparation assistance is provided at the library branches by either Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or AARP Tax-Aide. The assistance is offered on a first-come, first-served basis at the following locations and times:

<b>Beaufort Branch Library, </b><b>311 Scott Street:</b>

VITA Mondays, 10:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m.; VITA Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

<b>Bluffton Branch Library, </b><b>120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton:</b>

VITA Mondays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; AARP Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (*No help on Wednesday, 2/10); VITA Saturdays by appointment only on select days (call 843-321-9071)

<b>Hilton Head Branch Library, </b><b>11 Beach City Road:</b>

AARP Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

<b>Lobeco Branch Library, </b><b>1862 Trask Parkway:</b>

VITA Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

<b>St. Helena Branch Library, </b><b>6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road:</b>

VITA Mondays, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The documentation that taxpayers need to bring with them is available on the VITA website at vitalowcountry.org and the AARP Tax-Aide site at www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide. For additional information call the Beaufort County Main Library at (843)255-6430 or go to their website at www.beaufortcountylibrary.org.