MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the largest free volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program in the United States. In 2020, 1.5 million taxpayers who used AARP Foundation Tax-Aide received more than $1 billion in income tax refunds.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides in-person and virtual tax preparation help to anyone, free of charge, with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low-to-moderate income. More than 36,000 volunteers provide taxpayers in nearly 5,000 communities with free tax preparation and filing services.
Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to make sure they know about and understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tax-Aide has introduced several options for providing taxpayer assistance. These options vary by location and are subject to change.
- In-Person: In Tax-Aide’s traditional in-person service, taxes are prepared and filed by IRS-certified tax counselors — but now with strict physical distancing measures in place.
- Low-Contact: Taxpayers interact with IRS-certified Tax-Aide volunteers in one or two short, in-person meetings to exchange documents.
- Contact-Free: Taxpayers interact with Tax-Aide’s IRS-certified tax counselors online or by phone and exchange documents electronically.
- Self-preparation: Tax-Aide provides taxpayers with free access to software so they can prepare their own taxes. Taxpayers can also request help from a Tax-Aide IRS-certified counselor to coach them through the process through computer screen-sharing.
To help taxpayers make the most of the money, Tax-Aide helps them keep AARP Foundation sponsors SaveYourRefund, a program that offers incentives to encourage taxpayers to save at least part of their refund in a savings account. For more information, call 1 (888) OUR-AARP or 1 (888) 687-2277 or click here.
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment.