AARP Foundation's Tax-Aide Program Honored with Highest Accolade from IRS Wage and Investment Division

Source: AARP Press Center | 2008-09-19

September 19, 2008

Contact: Elly Spinweber, AARP, 202-434-2560, espinweber@aarp.org

The IRS Wage and Investment Division recently lauded the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program with its highest honor—the Commissioner’s Award. This is only the second time in the history of the award that the IRS has given this award to an external organization. The award recognizes the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program on its 40th anniversary for its outstanding contribution as the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run assistance and preparation service. The program is available to low-to-middle income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and older.

“We are pleased that the AARP Tax-Aide program has received such a special accolade,” said Bonnie Speedy, National Director of the program. “The program has been successful due to the volunteers and their willingness to help others. Because our volunteers stay on with the program for years, it is clear they find the experience rewarding. We hope more people will join us to volunteer in the future.”

Indeed, thanks to the dedicated effort of over 33,000 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers, the AARP Foundation assisted almost three million taxpayers in filing their federal, state, and local tax returns at 6,700 sites nationwide. AARP Foundation leads the way in providing electronic filing services to older taxpayers across the nation. For 2008, 86 percent of federal 1040 returns that AARP Tax-Aide volunteers helped prepare, were electronically filed. This represents a whopping 27 percent increase over the number e-filed the previous year.

“The AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program has been invaluable not only to the IRS, but to the older adult taxpayers nationwide,” said Richard Byrd, Jr., Commissioner, IRS Wage & Investment Division. “It is with appreciation and gratitude that I give this award to the AARP Foundation, the highest recognition I can bestow as the Commissioner.”

The AARP Tax-Aide program was founded in 1968 with just four volunteers and 100 clients. Since that time, the program’s volunteers have helped over 47 million people file their taxes. In addition to filing assistance, AARP Tax-Aide provides online tax assistance and trains and certifies volunteers annually for the upcoming tax season.

Those individuals who want to help others by becoming a volunteer for AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program, can find more information at www.aarp.org/taxaide or by calling 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669).