AARP Takes the Sting Out of Tax Time

Larry Maxcy, AARP Tax Aide

Tax season is upon us. Do you put off filling out all those confusing forms?  Afraid you’ll make a mistake?  Relax—help is available!
 

AARP volunteer Wallace Bell has served as a tax aide for 17 years, and finds the work very rewarding. _______________________

Free tax assistance and preparation for taxpayers with low and middle incomes, with special attention to people age 60 and older, is available from AARP Tax-Aide from February 1 through April 15. You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this free service.
 
Tax law is complex. AARP Tax-Aide volunteers can make the process of filling out tax returns a whole lot easier. AARP Tax-Aide volunteers have gone through a rigorous training program offered in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and have the knowledge to prepare your return taking advantage of the many provisions of the tax code.
 
Last year, volunteers in Vancouver, WA helped an elderly man, and discovered he was the sole support of an adult disabled son, and could claim him as a dependent. The happy tax result—a refund instead of a tax bill. 
 
In Bellingham, an AARP Tax-Aide volunteer took material to a local copy center. The young clerk, Mark Robbins, was more than delighted to help her—he had benefited from the free service before. "Last year they found I was due a $1,000 refund.  It was great for me, and it's an excellent service for the community," said Robbins.
 
Trained AARP Tax-Aide volunteers will offer help with personal income tax returns at over 200 sites in Washington. Last year, more than 1,000 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers worked with well over 50,000 Washington residents to file their returns. The program is offered at senior centers, libraries and other convenient locations.
 
For more information, or to locate a site near you, call our toll-free number, 1-888-227-7669.  You can also visit our web site.
 
When you visit an AARP Tax-Aide site, please bring a copy of last year's return, all W-2 and 1099 forms including SSA-1099 for Social Security benefits paid, all receipts and canceled checks if itemizing, Social Security cards for yourself and dependents, and if applicable, dependent care provider information, including name, employer, and social security number.   
 
AARP Tax-Aide is a program of the AARP Foundation, offered in conjunction with the IRS.