AARP Tax-Aide, the nations’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service, is looking for volunteers for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program.
Each year from Feb. 1 to April 15, AARP Tax-Aide volunteers prepare federal and state tax returns for low- and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to those 60 and older. Volunteers are especially needed to assist taxpayers with preparing their tax returns.
Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome and don’t need to be an AARP member or a retiree. Also, you don’t need to be an AARP member or retiree to benefit from the Tax-Aide program.
The Rowan County program is hosted by Rufty-Holmes Senior Center. Volunteers receive training on Tuesdays in January and work as counselors on Tuesdays, Feb. 3-April 14 at the center. They are reimbursed on a limited basis for qualified program-related expenses.
The training and free tax preparation service are provided in cooperation with the AARP Foundation and the Internal Revenue Service.
“The AARP Tax-Aide program is a wonderful resource for taxpayers in our community and across the nation,” said Don Michael, a program instructor and 19-year volunteer. “Our volunteers get a great deal of satisfaction from helping people deal with the preparation of their tax forms. If you want to help yourself and others with their tax returns, this is the program for you. As always, we need individuals who have some knowledge of tax return preparation and who have some computer skills to assist with electronic filing.”
More than 800 families were served at the Rufty-Holmes before this year’s tax deadline. Nationwide, the volunteers helped more than 2 million people file tax returns.