AARP volunteers provide complimentary tax preparation for those 60 and up

By Danielle Rexrode
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

If you’re like most Americans you’d rather undergo a root canal than prepare your own taxes. Keeping up with the ever changing tax codes, confusing forms, not to mention the fear of making a mistake, are enough to send you into a tail spin. So most of us do what comes naturally: seek a professional. But how much are you willing to pay to have your taxes prepared for you?

How about nothing? That’s exactly what the folks at Charlestown and Oak Crest can expect to pay thanks to AARP’s tax aide, the nation’s largest, free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service.

“Charlestown has been using this free service for at least fifteen years now,” says Mary Evans, senior community resources manager at Charlestown. “The AARP recruits and trains volunteers who service the greater community throughout the tax season. Volunteers come to Charlestown to assist people with preparing and filing their taxes,” she says.

Coming to your aid
“I’ve been volunteering since about 1990,” says Ronald ‘Ki’ Kent who lives at Oak Crest and is also the site coordinator for the program there. Ki oversees four to five tax counselors who volunteer their time preparing tax returns and then double checks the returns for accuracy after they’re completed.

“We prepare taxes on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” says Ki. “We have volunteers who schedule the appointments and then it’s up you to bring all of the paperwork,” he says.

“Each year volunteers are required to attend a two week class and are tested on the current tax laws. When tax time rolls around, they might be a little reluctant to use the service, but it’s free so why wouldn’t you take advantage of it,” says Ki.

Easy as 1, 2, 3
The complimentary services are also available to the employees of Charlestown and Oak Crest.