BELLOWS FALLS — AARP's Tax-Aide branch at the Bellows Falls Senior Center is looking to build its team of tax-loving volunteers.
Tax-Aide is a free tax assistance and preparation program for taxpayers with low to moderate income through the AARP Foundation. It has volunteer opportunities for people at every level of experience who want to stay sharp while giving back.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has grown remarkably since its inaugural team of just four volunteers in 1968. The program now involves more than 35,000 volunteers and serves 2.6 million taxpayers annually at more than 5,000 sites nationwide with free tax help. Taxpayers who used AARP Foundation Tax-Aide received $1.3 billion in income tax refunds and more than $250 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITCs).
Tax volunteers will complete a tax preparation workshop from the Internal Revenue Service prior to working with taxpayers. There is also a need for grassroots leadership, on-site greeters, those who are skilled in technology, and dedicated translators who can provide assistance in languages other than English.
Last year, Vermont AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 9,200 people file their federal and state tax returns, homestead declarations, and rental rebates. It is offered at approximately 66 sites in Vermont, including senior centers, libraries, and other convenient locations.
Tax-Aide in Bellows Falls assists local residents and people from Grafton, Townsend, Westminster and many from Walpole, N.H. In 2016, the AARP tax center at the Senior Center starts the year on Feb. 4, and will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers will also be assisting residents at Riverview Apartments, Canal House, and the Rockingham Free Public Library.
“It's personally rewarding to help out our friends and neighbors in the community with their tax returns,” said Marvin Resnikoff, site coordinator in Bellows Falls, in a news release. “Besides, it gives your mind a workout, too.”
Resnikoff says that the program's volunteers understand that retirement or other life changes may mean taxes can be a little more complicated, but with personal attention and assistance, taxpayers of all ages and backgrounds can receive applicable tax credits and deductions.
You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS.