AARP Tax-Aide to Provide Free Tax Assistance Beginning in February

By Janet Lam-Rogers, AARP Tax-Aide volunteer

Starting February 1, AARP Foundation will again provide free tax preparation and electronic filing at sites throughout the state. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in its 45th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention those 60 and older.  You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this free service.

AARP’s IRS tax-certified volunteer preparers can handle most common tax returns for employed or retired individuals, which include earned and retirement income, investment income (Schedule D), and various education, child and earned income credits.

AARP Tax-Aide sites are not able to prepare returns with rental income or depreciation, but do prepare Schedule C for individuals with small businesses that have less than $10,000 in annual expenses.  Taxpayers utilizing the free service can receive their tax refunds rather quickly as all AARP Tax-Aide sites will be using electronic filing.

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, check us out online or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669).  AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS.