Oregon economy gets a boost with the help of tax aide volunteers

Alexander Raths - Fotolia

(Clackamas, Oregon) -- Bob Bruce, AARP Foundation Tax Aide State Coordinator for Oregon announced the organization helped to return more than $52 million dollars back to tax payers, many of whom are seniors or people with lower incomes. "This is a significant economic boost to Oregon's economy," Bruce said.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide's 1,180 volunteers in Oregon helped more than 72,978 people file their federal and state tax returns. The program is offered at approximately 135 locations in Oregon including senior centers, libraries and other convenient locations throughout the state.

"This program is made possible by volunteers who are trained by the IRS," Bruce said. Many tax aide volunteers have helped people for a decade or more throughout the state and are serving people in multiple languages.

To continue the service and help as many Oregonians as possible, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking to expand its team of volunteers for the upcoming tax season. Approaching its 50th year, Tax-Aide offers free tax filing help to anyone, especially those 50 and older, who can't afford a tax preparation service. Tax-Aide volunteers make a difference in their communities by assisting many older, lower-income taxpayers who might otherwise miss out on the credits and deductions they've earned. For example in Oregon, $13,767,559 was returned to Oregon in the form of Earned Income Tax Credits.

Tax-Aide volunteers receive training and support in a welcoming environment. There is need for volunteer tax preparers, client facilitators, those who can provide technical and management assistance and interpreters. Every level of experience is welcome. Volunteer tax preparers complete tax preparation training and IRS certification.

"Even if you don't want to do tax returns but want to help people, we would love you to volunteer," Bruce said. "We need people with a variety of skills to staff make the program run smoothly."

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has grown remarkably since its inaugural team of just four volunteers in 1968. The program now involves nearly 35,000 volunteers and serves 2.5 million taxpayers annually at some 5,000 sites nationwide with free tax help. In 2017 taxpayers who used AARP Foundation Tax-Aide received $1.37 billion in income tax refunds and more than $222 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITCs). Taxpayers do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this program.

To learn about our volunteer opportunities, visit www.aarpfoundation.org/taxaide  or call 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277). AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in coordination with the IRS.