US foundation offers free tax prep help to low-income filers

WASHINGTON, DC– Taxpayers with low to moderate income can get free tax assistance and preparation from AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program, which is now in its 46th year.

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention to those 60 and older. This free service is available to both AARP members and non-members. It is administered in cooperation with the US Internal Revenue Service.

In 2014 the program’s 36,000 volunteers at more than 5,000 sites provided 2.6 million people with free tax help. Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified each year to ensure their knowledge of revisions to the U.S. tax code.

Taxpayers who used AARP Foundation Tax-Aide received $1.3 billion in income tax refunds and more than $257 million inEarned Income Tax Credits (EITCs).

“AARP Tax-Aide helps those who can least afford to pay the costly fees that are charged to file taxes,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Markets and Engagement, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience. “Our volunteers are trained and IRS-certified each year to ensure individuals don’t end up overpaying their taxes. When you have a fixed or low income, every dollar is important.”

(For more information or to locate an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site, visit www.aarp.org/findtaxhelp or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669). Some locations offer assistance in additional languages, including Chinese, Tagalog, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese. An appointment may be required.)