AARP Volunteers Make Tax Time less Taxing

AARP Volunteers Make Tax Time less Taxing

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide sites to provide free IRS-certified tax preparation through April 15

LITTLE ROCK —Hundreds of AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers in dozens of Arkansas communities are standing by to help low- to moderate-income taxpayers of all ages prepare their 2012 income tax returns at no cost.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is open to anyone, including non-AARP members, but the program gives priority to low- and moderate-income people age 60 and older. Volunteers are IRS trained and certified, ready to prepare a variety of returns and most returns can be filed electronically.

Most AARP Foundation Tax-Aide sites in Arkansas will be open through April 15 and operate on a first come, first served basis; some offer appointments.  For a complete list of locations and hours, visit www.aarp.org/findtaxhelp or call toll-free 1-888-227-7669.

"AARP Foundation Tax-Aide exists to help those who might not otherwise have access to tax preparation services," said Lydia Plant, Arkansas State Administrator for AARP Foundation Tax-Aide. “Those who receive tax preparation assistance from our IRS-trained and certified volunteers also avoid any tax preparation fees and pitches for high-interest tax credit or refund checks.”

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide clients are asked to bring last year’s tax returns; forms such related to income from employment, pensions, annuities, Social Security, dividends or other sources; and canceled checks or other paperwork showing payment of state or federal taxes. A complete list of potentially applicable documents to bring is available at http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/info-01-2011/important-tax-documents.html

Last year, 318 AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers at 32 sites across Arkansas helped prepare and file 29,258 returns. Arkansas taxpayers who used AARP Foundation Tax-Aide received $17.3 million in income tax refunds and more than $3.5 million in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which goes to working families with limited resources.

About AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. By coordinating responses to these issues on all four fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy, the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working with local organizations nationwide to reach more people, work more efficiently and make resources go further. AARP Foundation is the charitable affiliate of AARP. Learn more at www.aarpfoundation.org