Taxes got you down?

Relax — April 15 is still a way off. And there are several places to find help preparing those state and federal tax returns.

One is the local Internal Revenue Service office at 2945 Rodeo Park Drive East, in the Rodeo Park business complex off Rodeo Road.

The IRS staff provides assistance for taxpayers from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 986-5264 for more information.

Free assistance filing federal and state tax returns is also available from Tax-Aide of Santa Fe, a program sponsored by AARP and Santa Fe Community College.

Tax-Aide's office at Santa Fe Community College's Fitness Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. At the Boys and Girls Club, 730 Alto St., free tax preparation is available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Peter Doniger is the district coordinator of the AARP Tax-Aide program in Santa Fe. He can be reached at 670-6835.

Tax-Aide Santa Fe may refuse to prepare a return if it is too complicated, however. In addition, small-business returns can be refused if the business has employees or depreciation.

Doniger said last week that volunteers at his two Tax-Aide sites are very busy filing tax returns.

"The big thing this year is the $8,000 homebuyer credit," he said. "We've probably done 20 of them. It's a huge deal."

Doniger said he and his group of 60 volunteers could prepare as many as 10,000 tax returns before April 15.

The earned-income program has also been something taxpayers are taking advantage of. "The third child counts this year," meaning tax refunds are larger, Doniger said. "We've had a couple of $9,000 refunds for families who make $20,000 per year."

IRS employees in the Santa Fe office can answer questions on the full range of tax law provisions, such as the new allowance for $2,400 of tax-free unemployment compensation benefits, a statement from the IRS said.

Commonly requested tax forms and publications are available for pickup, and assistance in Spanish also will be provided. Free tax help is intended for those who earn $49,000 or less.

"This year, due to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, there are several tax credits, deductions and allowable expenses that may help individuals save money on their taxes," said Bill Brunson, IRS spokesman, in a statement.

"For example, a person may qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit for the first time because their income dropped due to fewer hours worked, they were laid off, or worse — lost a job," he said. To find out if you qualify for this credit and other tax breaks, you can go online to IRS.gov, call the IRS toll-free at 800-929-1040 or drop by the Santa Fe IRS office.

New Mexico residents who are unable to pay all their taxes by the April 15 deadline can obtain information about payment plans.

There are several other free tax preparation sites around New Mexico, such as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly.

The latter two organizations, however, do not have offices in Santa Fe.

The IRS suggests taxpayers needing help call 800-906-9887 to find the nearest free tax help site.

The state Taxation and Revenue Department encourages New Mexicans to e-file their tax returns. This is the 22nd year e-filing has been available.

The e-filing tax deadline is April 30, 2010. To e-file state tax returns, go to www.tax.state.nm.us.

Those who do not have access to a computer or need help filing state tax returns may visit the Taxation and Revenue Department office in Santa Fe at 1200 South St. Francis Drive. The telephone number is 827-0951.