Turning Tax Anxiety into Tax-Aide Volunteering 

The moment Erin Gomez learned that her taxes were under review, her world shifted. 

Despite holding graduate degrees in business and finance — and working in a management role within a non-profit health care system — she suddenly found herself facing nearly $15,000 in state and federal tax debt following her divorce. 

“It was horrible and humiliating,” Erin said.  

Although she was comfortable with numbers, preparing and filing the family’s taxes had always been a source of anxiety for her, so she left it up to her husband and didn’t take an active role. Now, as a newly single mom, she was left to untangle a situation she never expected to face. 

Desperate for support, Erin 42 called the Oregon Department of Revenue, and instead of judgment, she found something she hadn’t anticipated: kindness. “The representatives that work for the department really took the time to walk me through the process. They treated me like there was no one else waiting to talk to them,” she said. “Having such a positive experience gave me the courage to call the IRS.” 

To her surprise, the same patience and kindness were waiting for her at the other end of the IRS phone line when she called to address the Federal taxes. “I think we talked for over an hour,” she recalled of an IRS representative. “At one point, we even started talking about our dogs. It was a really positive experience.” 

Finding Kindness in a Crisis

So positive, in fact, that Erin wanted to pay it forward. If someone could make one of the most stressful moments of her own life feel manageable, she wondered how many others needed that same kind of support. 

“I work around math and numbers all the time,” Erin said. “I knew that if I was intimidated by the tax process, I could only imagine what it was like for other people.” 

Erin looked for volunteer opportunities on the IRS website, which led her to AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free volunteer-led tax preparation program, serving more than 1.8 million people per year. She completed the training, and worked with her employer to find a schedule that let her take off for half-days on Mondays during tax season so that she could drive from her home in Eagle Point in southwest Oregon to her volunteer site at a public library in Talent, about thirty minutes away. 

“The library there is the heart of the community,” she said, noting that there are always events happening and that families often bring their children to play on the nearby playground or grab lunch from local food trucks. “For me, that’s worth the drive.” 

Meeting Clients Where They Are

Erin’s own experiences shaped the way she approaches her AARP Foundation Tax-Aide clients. While some come to her with their documents already organized and ready — “I’m always impressed with and envious of those people!” she joked — she still remembers how she felt when she received that first overwhelming tax notice. Keeping that in mind helps her to slow down, be more compassionate, and focus on relationships. 

One of the best ways she’s found to do that has been meeting her clients where they are, including being open with them. “If they seem anxious, I can tell them that taxes freak me out too,” she said. 

Erin’s clients are a constant source of inspiration. “What always stands out to me is the emotion behind each and every tax return,” she said. “When we can give good news to people who come to us anxious and fearful, sharing that we’ve found opportunities for a refund — that joy radiates through the room.” 

Erin has come a long way since that first frightening IRS notice. Today, she’s able not just to prepare and file her own taxes with confidence, but to give others the same comfort and understanding she herself once needed. In fact, she’s found her volunteering experience so meaningful that she posted on LinkedIn to encourage others to give it a try.  

Learn more about AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and how to become a Tax-Aide Volunteer.

Read more stories about how our programs have helped people find hope, and about the volunteers who give so much of themselves to help others.