Can Aarp Help Me with My Taxes
In response to the pandemic, Tax-Aide will offer four options to help taxpayers complete and file their tax returns: they can continue to fill out paper tax forms and send them to the IRS. However, you will receive your refund faster if you submit it electronically. The IRS has partnered with eight software companies that allow you to file your return online for free. To use the free online records program, individual applicants must have an adjusted gross income of $73,000 or less. (AGI is your total income minus adjustments such as support payments, health savings account contributions, and interest on student loans.) Some free drop-off points have lower maximum AGI requirements. MilTax, which is funded by the Ministry of Defense, provides free tax assistance and filing software for active soldiers, the National Guard and reserves, recently separated soldiers, military families, and survivors. Volunteer to help low- and middle-income taxpayers prepare and file their taxes, or get help with your taxes at one of our tax assistance institutions. The sites are open every year from the end of January/beginning of February to 15 April. If you wish, you can request virtual assistance.
With this option, you can prepare your taxes online for free and get help by sharing your screen with a virtual volunteer. A volunteer will guide you through the tax preparation process while using free tax software. Editor`s Note: This article was originally published on January 26, 2018. It has been updated with 2021 filing dates and 2020 tax return figures. The program offers personal and virtual tax assistance from February 12 to April 15 for any free person, with a particular focus on taxpayers over the age of 50 or with low or middle incomes. You do not need to be a member of AARP. “All of our tax preparations are done by trained volunteers who must complete annual training and pass IRS certification to support tax preparation,” says Lynnette Lee-Villanueva, Vice President of the AARP Tax-Aide Foundation. This year, tax support is only available by appointment, and available options are subject to change on short notice due to covid-19 conditions.
Check the Tax-Help site locator for locations. AARP Foundation Tax Aid volunteers can help with most, but not all, tax returns. For example, if you qualify and have not received some or all of a stimulus payment to which you are entitled, they can help you get a tax credit for the amount owed to you. You can also get help with income tax credits, child care credits, estimated taxes and more. If you have an extremely complicated rate of return, such as one that affects a small business with employees, rental income, or other minimum taxes, Tax-Aide may not be able to help you. The National Society of Accountants claims that nearly 90% of accountants and tax advisors offer free advice to clients and can help you decide if it makes sense for you to file on your own. You must file tax returns. However, DIY software can be confusing – and some paid tax preparation services cost money that you may not be able to spend. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide can help. From February 1 to April 15, the AARP Foundation offers personal tax support and preparation through its tax assistance program – and it`s completely free. Last year, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 108,360 Pennsylvania residents claim $76,415 in federal refunds and $5.4 million in income tax credits. The program is offered in approximately 283 locations in Pennsylvania, including senior centers, libraries, and other low-cost locations.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the largest free volunteer-run tax preparation service in the country,” said Bill Johnston-Walsh, director of AARP pennsylvania state. “Our volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS every year to make sure they understand the latest changes in U.S. tax law.” Taxpayers who applied for tax assistance from the AARP Foundation in 2019 received $1.6 billion in income tax refunds and more than $200 million in earned income tax credits (EITC). They also avoided tax preparation costs and the case for high-interest tax credits or repayment loans. The program is offered in conjunction with the IRS, and AARP membership is not required. To find an AARP Tax-Aide Foundation website or more information, including the documents you need to bring to the tax page, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxhelp or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669).