AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offering free assistance in the Annex

MILLERTON — The NorthEast-Millerton Library is participating with AARP Foundation for Tax-Aide assistance on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with required appointments.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Service provides free tax assistance to anyone, however, there is a focus on taxpayers with low to moderate incomes or are over the age of 50 years old. The program runs with Tax-Aide volunteers who receive training and are IRS-certified every year to ensure they are up-to-date on any latest changes to tax codes.

AARP Foundation’s mission has been to help reduce poverty not only for older adults, but with them as well. During the 10-week tax season, the foundation sends volunteers to more than 3,500 different communities to meet with taxpayers and maximize their tax returns.

The volunteers are able to help file a variety of income tax forms, yet need to stay within certain tax law and policies that are set by the IRS and AARP Foundation. Some returns the volunteers can prepare include: wages, interest, dividends, unemployment compensation, pensions, retirement income, Social Security, self employment, charitable cash contributions, qualified business income deductions and much more.

In 2023, according to the AARP website, the foundation was able to secure $563,947,534 through its Tax-Aide program, assisting tax refunds and credit to 918,774 older adults with low income.

For members of the community that struggle with low income, tax refunds can be one of their largest payments they receive all year. Last year, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide helped taxpayers secure an average refund of $905, which according to the AARP website, is equivalent to a year of cell phone service for an older adult with low income.

The program recently began on Friday, Feb. 7, and community members have the ability to use this service until Friday, April 11. Appointments will be held in the NorthEast-Millerton Library’s Annex, located across from the Post Office.

To ensure the volunteers can assist with your return, visit taxaide.aarpfoundation.org to learn more and to schedule an appointment dial 211 or call 1-800-899-1479.