AARP Tax-Aide Tax Preparation SW Washington, Program Operation

What is AARP Tax-Aide?
A free, quality income tax assistance and income tax return preparation service which operates under the umbrella of the AARP Foundation, the charitable arm of AARP. Funding for the Tax-Aide program comes from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the AARP Foundation, and private contributions.

Aimed, in general, at low- and middle-income taxpayers with special attention to those 60 and older. However, as a matter of practice, our Tax-Aide sites provide free income tax assistance and income tax return preparation for most low- to middle-income taxpayers.

Tax-Aide sites are staffed with friendly local volunteers trained using IRS training materials specifically developed for Tax-Aide. Training includes tax law and preparation of simulated income tax returns, including the tax forms and schedules used by most individual taxpayers. The volunteer income tax preparers are then certified with an IRS examination administered each year.

Available for on-site tax assistance locally at approximately 10 sites staffed by approximately 80 volunteers, between February 1 and April 15.

Year-round online tax assistance is available at www.aarp.org/taxaide.

To volunteer you should complete the Volunteer Contact Form, or call the AARP Tax-Aide toll-free number, 1-800-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669); or contact us via e-mail at voltaxaide@comcast.net.

How do we operate?
We use a standardized process to prepare tax returns. You will be asked to complete a form that provides the basic information. The Counselor will review the form and your tax documents (W-2's, 1099's, etc) with you as the first step.

If the return is within the scope of the program (and most are), the Counselor will complete your tax return using professional-grade income tax preparation software furnished by the IRS. The Counselor will probably have questions for you during this process.

Once your income tax return is completed, it will be checked for accuracy and completeness by another Counselor - our Quality Review. Our goal is 100% accuracy in your tax return.

Your return will be electronically filed with the IRS and, if necessary, with the State of Oregon. In some rare situations we will printout a return to be stamped and mailed.

Tax-Aide sites are staffed with friendly local volunteers trained using IRS training materials specifically developed for Tax-Aide. Training includes tax law and preparation of simulated income tax returns, including the tax forms and schedules used by most individual taxpayers. The volunteer income tax preparers are certified with an IRS examination administered each year.

Where do we operate?
Nationally, AARP Tax-Aide provides tax return preparation and tax counseling at nearly 6,500 sites, using over 35,300 volunteers. For the 2009 tax season Tax Aide helped over 2.6 million customers nationally. The program is administered through a small staff at the National office in Washington DC, through volunteer Regional, State, and District, and Local (site) coordinators. There are also a number of volunteer staffed committees focused on issues like technology and training.

Washington Tax-Aide District 1 is assigned four counties in SW Washington State: Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Wahkiakum. There are seven full-time tax preparation sites in Clark County and three full-time tax preparation sites in Cowlitz County. Sites operate from one to three days per week.

Tax-Aide prepares income tax forms and provides tax assistance in sites generously provided by a variety of site owners, such as public libraries, recreation centers, senior centers, and retirement communities. Since the AARP Foundation, the umbrella organization for the Tax-Aide program, is an IRS certified 501(c)(3) charitable organization, privately owned site-providers can generally write off the in-kind value of the site as a charitable contribution.

How can I be a part of this program?
You must sign an IRS Confidentiality Statement, which basically says you will not reveal personal or income tax-related information about anyone assisted by the program.

You must successfully complete the required training for the position for which you are volunteering

You must work a minimum number of hours preparing tax returns or performing other duties during tax season.

To volunteer you should complete the Volunteer Contact Form, or call the AARP Tax-Aide toll-free number, 1-800-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669); or contact us via e-mail at voltaxaide@comcast.net.

Administered through the AARP Foundation in Cooperation with the IRS
www.aarp.org/taxaide