Volunteers needed on all islands for AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking to expand its team of volunteers for the upcoming tax season.

Tax-Aide, now in its 51st year, offers free in-person preparation and assistance to anyone, especially those 50 and older, who can’t afford a tax preparation service. Volunteers make a difference in their communities by assisting many older, lower-income taxpayers and their families, who might otherwise miss out on the tax credits and deductions they earned.

The program is seeking people on all islands interested in being volunteer tax preparers, client facilitators, those who can provide technical and management assistance and interpreters. Every level of experience is welcome.

Volunteer tax preparers complete tax preparation training and IRS certification.

Last year, 236 AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers helped nearly 13,000 people file their federal and state tax returns. The program is offered at approximately 27 sites in Hawaii, including senior centers, libraries and other convenient locations.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest volunteer-operated tax preparation service, growing since its inaugural team of just four volunteers in 1968. The program now involves 35,000 volunteers and serves more than 2.5 million taxpayers annually at nearly 5,000 sites nationwide.

Taxpayers do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use Tax-Aide.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit www.aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277).