AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is Providing Free Tax Prep Help

By Janet Lam-Rogers, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Volunteer

It's that time of year again - Tax Time!  If you could use a helping hand, AARP Foundation is providing free tax preparation and electronic filing at sites throughout the state. AARP-Tax-Aide is totally free; you do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this free service.

2014 tax returns reflect a change as the result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  And for those who did not have medical insurance coverage the entire year, or who purchased insurance through the Washington State Health Plan Exchange, there will be some new tax forms to deal with when filing 2014 tax returns.  AARP-Tax-Aide will have tax counselors who are trained to help tackle your ACA tax return questions.

Whether you are a working or retired individual, AARP’s IRS tax-certified volunteer preparers can handle your tax returns. In addition to earned and retirement income reporting, we can help you with your investment income (interests, dividends, and capital gains for Schedule D), Schedule C for individuals with small businesses that have less than $10,000 in annual expenses, and various education, child and earned income credits.

Taxpayers utilizing the free service can receive their tax refunds rather quickly as all AARP Tax-Aide sites will be using electronic filing.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in its 46th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention those 60 and older.  Since 1968, AARP Foundation’s volunteer-based Tax-Aide program has helped nearly 50 million low to moderate income taxpayers.  The program has over 35,000 volunteers and 6,000 sites across the country.  In Washington state last year, more than 1,000 Tax-Aide volunteers helped about 78,000 taxpayers get more than $52 million in refunds.

For more information and to locate an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site near you, visit www.aarp.org/findtaxhelp  or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669).  AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS.