Tax season has begun, and for the 50th year a large contingent of mostly retired seniors will be helping other seniors prepare and file their tax returns for free.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offering this service to anyone, not just older adults, filing a 1040 or other standard tax form. More than 100 tax prep sites have been set up in senior centers, public libraries and other municipal buildings throughout the state through April 14.
Some 771 volunteers — mostly retired seniors — operate the national Tax-Aide program in Georgia. Each tax preparer is IRS certified, and other volunteers help clients get their documents in order and fill out needed forms. Last year, Tax-Aide volunteers filed 37,000 tax returns for Georgia residents. Nationwide, 2.6 million people were helped at 5,000 sites in 2017.
While most sites welcome walk-ins, some do require appointments. Go to the national website aarp.org/taxaide or call toll-free 1-888-227-7669 to find the nearest location. Clients should bring their Social Security card, driver's license and all documents related to their income, deductions and health insurance, as well as the previous year's tax returns. Volunteers can't do taxes for businesses, or for people who have rental property or home businesses.
Expect to spend at least an hour or more on site. Volunteers have been trained to ensure against identity theft, and every tax return will be double-checked by another preparer to ensure the information has been recorded accurately.
“The goal is to make sure every tax return goes through and it’s error-free,” said state Tax-Aide volunteer coordinator Bill Casement.
Casement, 76, of Alpharetta has been a Tax-Aide volunteer for 15 years, and this is his second 6-year stint as state coordinator. Casement said volunteering with Tax-Aide gives him something meaningful to do, and he enjoys helping other people and working alongside the other volunteers who have become like family through the years.
This will be the 10th year with Tax-Aide for Linda Garyantes, 78, North Fulton district coordinator. She’s a relative newcomer compared to others in the state who’ve given 25 or 30 years to the program.
“It feels good to help people,” Garyantes said. “It keeps my mind sharper than if I were just doing stuff around the house.”
She said she loves working with the people who come in to have their taxes prepared, and also with the other volunteers and the employees at the sites.
Volunteers are recruited in September, then receive training in December through online materials provided by the IRS. Counselors must pass IRS certification every year. You don’t have to have a background in accounting or know much about tax preparation to volunteer, Casement said. Preparers use TaxSlayer software provided by the IRS, and training and mentorship is provided for all new volunteers.
Will Christopher, 73, coordinator for two sites in north Fulton, has been helping with Tax-Aide for seven years. After retiring from a 30-year career in computers, he was looking for something stimulating to do.
“I really enjoy working for other people, especially seniors, so this seemed to fit the bill,” he said.
Casement said many seniors become anxious about the whole tax filing process. They’re fearful of having their identity stolen, and they don’t want to go to a paid tax service because of the cost.
Sometimes an elderly person will come in who lost a spouse the previous year, and that person has never had to do taxes before. The person might bring in a bunch of envelopes, some of which have never been opened. But volunteers are happy to help, Casement said. They’ll walk the person through the process.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say, ‘I don’t know what I would have done without you,’ and they have tears in their eyes,” Casement said.
AARP FOUNDATION TAX-AIDE
Find nearest site at aarp.org/taxaide or by calling toll-free 1-888-227-7669.
Bring the following:
• Last year’s tax returns
• Social Security card for every individual on the tax return.
• Photo ID for all taxpayers.
• All documents related to income, deductions and health insurance.
• Checkbook if you want a direct deposit or refund.
