AARP Offers Tax Help For Elderly

LANSING – AARP Foundation this tax season is again providing free tax assistance and preparation for taxpayers with low to moderate income through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program.

Tax-Aide, in its 44th year, is the nation's largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention to the older population. You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service.

"People definitely rely on this service," said Calvin Strom, coordinator of Tax-Aide in Michigan. "We provide a tremendous benefit in terms of refund money to clients. The numbers are phenomenal."

Michigan taxpayers using Tax-Aide collected over $25 million in refunds last year, Strom said.

In 2011, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide's 35,000 volunteers at 6,100 sites across the country provided 2.6 million people with free tax help. Taxpayers who used AARP Foundation Tax-Aide received $1.3 billion in income tax refunds and more than $228 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITCs).

In Michigan, 872 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 76,000 people file their federal and state tax returns last year. The program is offered at approximately 180 sites in Michigan, including senior centers, libraries and other convenient locations.

For more information or to locate an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669) or visit www.aarp.org/taxaide. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is a program of AARP Foundation, offered in cooperation with the IRS.