Tax-Aide Seeks Volunteers

Tax-Aide Seeks Volunteers

My Communicator | Fall 2024

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 volunter tax preparers for next year.

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

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 nearly 250 people, saving them an estimated $60,000 in tax preparation fees and helping them collect nearly $225,000 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 the middle third of 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 Judy Gardiner at ohio2taxaide@gmail.com, go to the Tax-Aide website at aarpfoundation.org/taxaidevolunteer, or call 888-227-7669.