RICHARDSON – Since the beginning of February, volunteers with AARP’s Tax-Aide program have been helping residents with basic tax returns at the Richardson Public Library and the Richardson Senior Center.
The tax assistance is free and available every Monday at the Library and every Friday at the Senior Center. The service will operate through the middle of April.
“We come from all kinds of backgrounds. We do have folks that have previously done tax professionally. There are also folks like me that have only done our own. But we do have extensive training,” said Liz, one of the handful of trained volunteers.
Although the tax program caters to people over the age of 50 with incomes of less than $50,000, the service is offered to anyone needing help filing a basic tax return. The AARP Foundation funds the program.
“Most returns take between a half hour to 45 minutes to prepare and another thirty minutes or so for volunteers to check their work,” she said.
The volunteers will help people fill out an intake and interview form and several consent forms. They will also conduct a basic interview to make sure forms are properly filled out and people have the proper documentation.
“In addition to the envelopes that read ‘Important Tax-Information,’ people should bring photo identification for adults and social security cards for everyone who will be included in the return,” said Liz.
The service is first come, first serve. The client facilitator at both the Library and the Senior Center will have people line up and sign in once when they arrive.
“It is very rewarding, and it really makes me feel good that I have been able to help people, who need help,” she said.
AARP Tax-Aide volunteers are available to help people file basic tax returns at the Richardson Public Library Mondays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
They will also provide help at the Richardson Senior Center at 820 Arapaho Road every Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on services at the facility please call Richardson Senior Center at (972) 744-7800.
Visit www.cor.net/taxhelp for more information on the free tax service.
