This year AARP Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service, is seeking new volunteers of all ages to assist in the 2016 tax preparation season as well as to become leadership coordinators. You do not need to be a retiree or an AARP member, and you don’t have to have tax or accounting experience to volunteer.

The tax preparation service is offered free to area residents at the Polk County Library on each Wednesday during the tax season. Last year AARP Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 2.6 million taxpayers across all 50 states.

“Our Columbus tax preparation site assisted nearly 250 area residents prepare both federal and state tax returns last tax season,” says Ron Peters, the AARP Tax-Aide Coordinator for Polk County. “This was accomplished despite a reduced staff, and we could certainly help a lot more area residents if more volunteers were encouraged to assist. Becoming an AARP Tax-Aide is a great way to learn new skills and to help others in the community.”

Volunteers receive free tax preparation training in early January of 2016 and are required to pass a certification examination to become an AARP Tax-Aide. Volunteers are then able to help area residents one-on-one at tax preparation sites. Computers and tax software for volunteers are provided by the AARP Foundation in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service.

For more information on how you can join the local AARP Tax-Aide team in Polk County, contact Ron Peters

AARP Tax-Aide Polk County Coordinator at 828-625-8820 or ronpeters@skyrunner.net. You may also call the toll-free number 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277) or visit the website at www.aarp.org/taxaide.

– Submitted by Ron Peters