Staying Fit

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide will get your tax returns filled out and filed — all for free.
The program, aimed at taxpayers 50 and older, is free and doesn’t require AARP membership. You’ll get assistance from volunteers certified by the Internal Revenue Service. You can even get your tax return sent electronically for free, which will speed your refund. To get help with preparing your tax return from an IRS-certified volunteer, book an appointment using the Site Locator. But you can’t just walk in empty-handed or — even worse — with a shoebox full of receipts. Here’s what you will need:
General
- All correspondence received from the IRS and your state/local taxing authority.
- Social Security cards and/or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number notices/cards or other official documentation that show the taxpayer identification numbers for every individual on your return.
- Government-issued photo ID for each taxpayer.
- Checking or savings account information if you want to direct-deposit any refund(s) or direct-debit any amounts due.
- Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) (for each individual if applicable). Don't have one? The IRS can send you one.
Income
- W-2 forms for each employer.
- 1099-G form for unemployment compensation or state/local income tax refunds.
- SSA-1099 form showing the total Social Security benefits paid to you for the year, or RRB-1099, Tier 1 railroad retirement benefits form.
- 1099 forms (or other statements) reporting interest (1099-INT), dividends (1099-DIV) and/or proceeds from sales (1099-B), plus documentation showing the original purchase prices if you sold stocks or other assets.
- 1099-R form if you received a pension, annuity or IRA distribution.
- 1099-MISC, 1099-K or other 1099 forms. If you have a business, bring a summary list of all your income (cash and noncash) and all business-related expenses.
- Information about any other income of any form, including cash.
- IRS letter 6475 detailing the Economic Impact Payment (stimulus) amounts received. (There were no stimulus checks in 2022 from the federal government, but you may have gotten a stimulus check from your state.)
- IRS letter 6419 detailing any Advance Child Tax Credit received.
Payments
Records of any federal and/or state and/or local income tax paid (including quarterly estimated tax payments) if not shown on income documents.