Beginning Feb. 1 and continuing through April 17, the AARP Foundation is providing free tax assistance and preparation through its Tax-Aide program.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, celebrating 50 years of service, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service. Since its inception, the program has served more than 50 million taxpayers.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide started in 1968 with four volunteers working at one site. Today, nearly 35,000 volunteers serve low- to moderate-income taxpayers at 5,000 locations in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers and senior centers nationwide. There’s no fee, and AARP membership is not required.
“Tax-Aide is aimed at people who can’t afford to pay someone else to do their taxes,” said Barbara Kim Stanton, the AARP Hawaii state director. “For someone on a fixed income, saving money on taxes can make a big difference.
“In 2017, we helped people claim $820,888 in Earned Income Tax Credits in Hawaii, a deduction that about a quarter of eligible taxpayers miss. In total, our volunteers helped Hawaii taxpayers get $4,632,536 in refunds.”
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified each year to ensure they know about and understand the latest changes to the U.S. Tax Code.
In Hawaii, 217 AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers helped 12,871 people file their federal and state tax returns in 2017. The program is offered at 28 sites, including senior centers, libraries and other convenient locations.
For more information, including which documents to bring to the tax site, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxhelp or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669).
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS.