History

• Founded in 1968, the AARP Tax-Aide Program was developed to aid its members by offering free tax preparation by trained volunteers. The program was developed through the collaboration of an AARP executive and an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee who were concerned about older tax filers. The program began with the assistance of volunteers from the AARP's adult education program, leading to a formal agreement between the AARP Board of Directors and the IRS.
  
  

Training

• Tax-Aide volunteers are trained with the assistance of the IRS to help with filing 1040 forms and electronic filing (e-filing). Specialized training focuses on the more standard tax schedules, especially Schedules A and B.
  
  

Time Frame

• AARP Tax-Aide assistance is offered year-round with volunteers available at select locations or online. Online assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  
  

Significance

• The AARP Tax-Aide Program is the largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance program in the country. Since the beginning of the program, over 50 million AARP members have been assisted, most of them low-to-middle-income taxpayers. The program is offered at over 6,500 locations including libraries, senior centers and community centers.