Tax-Aide Seeks Volunteers

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program, which provides free tax preparation for older adults at SourcePoint and more than 200 other communities across Ohio, is looking for volunteer tax preparers for next year.

Anyone who does their own taxes is an ideal candidate for the all-volunteer program. Volunteers receive IRS-approved training, work on AARP Foundation-provided computers, and are mentored throughout the tax season.

Until COVID-19 forced a shutdown in early 2020, Tax-Aide volunteers prepared tax returns at five locations in Delaware County. As the pandemic abated, Tax-Aide resumed operations at Andrews House and SourcePoint, but not enough volunteers returned to reopen sites in Ashley, Sunbury, and the library. TaxAide hopes to restore service there as soon as possible.

Tax-Aide volunteers have an immediate and measurable impact on the lives of the people they serve. Volunteers save often financially pressed older adults the cost of paying a private preparer and provide a calm, steady, and reassuring hand in an often stressful situation.

This year SourcePoint volunteers filed returns for more than 200 people, saving them an estimated $47,500 in tax preparation fees and helping them collect nearly $175,000 in tax refunds.

Volunteers come from all walks of life, including beauticians, accountants, truck drivers, and managers. Volunteers who prefer not to prepare tax returns are also needed to do such things as manage taxpayer appointments and see that they have the necessary paperwork.

Bruce Gelsinger, Tax-Aide state coordinator for mid-Ohio, said, “Please consider joining our ranks. The demand increases every year, and we need more volunteers to fill the need.”

For more information about volunteering, please contact Prospective Volunteer Specialist Jusy Gardiner at ohio2taxaide@ gmail.com, go to the Tax-Aide website at aarpfoundation.org/ taxaidevolunteer, or call 888-227-7667.

HARD

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