AARP Tax-Aide

Millions of Americans of all ages struggle every year with the complexities of federal and state tax codes. Many pay dearly for assistance; many others submit incomplete and inaccurate returns. It doesn’t have to be this way. Help is available.

One by one, AARP Foundation volunteers helped a record 2.95 million people complete their federal and state tax returns through our Tax-Aide Program. This achievement on behalf of low- and moderate-income people, many of whom are over age 60, was made possible by a corps of 33,200 trained and IRS-certified volunteers. They provided a friendly face and a helping hand to the clients they served at more than 6,700 convenient Tax-Aide sites, including public libraries, senior centers and local government offices across the country.

With our assistance, clients received approximately $837 million in refunds, including $187 million in Earned Income Tax Credits. More importantly, the refunds stayed in our clients’ pockets rather than being lost to one of the many questionable and pernicious tax schemes pitched aggressively to consumers during tax season.

Paying for food, medicine, utilities and other daily needs became a little easier for 500,000 older adults who do not have enough income to file tax returns. Tax-Aide assisted people in filing for one-time federal economic stimulus tax payments of $300 for individuals and $600 for couples.

In September, the IRS presented its highest honor—the Wage and Investment Commissioner’s Award—to AARP Tax-Aide to honor its 40th anniversary. AARP Tax-Aide is administered by the AARP Foundation in conjunction with the IRS.

From its modest start with four volunteers in 1968, Tax-Aide has grown to become the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance program.