AARP Tax-Aide Serves Millions

By Jodi Lipson
February 2008

Tax tips (February/March 2006)

Some 2 million people got help with their tax returns in 2007 from AARP Tax-Aide—the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service, which is administered by the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

“AARP Tax-Aide volunteers lead the way in electronic filing services to elderly taxpayers across the nation,” says Julie Garcia of the IRS. “That means quicker returns and fewer errors.” The IRS figures a one percent error rate on electronic returns, compared to 20 percent for paper returns.  

Launched in 1968, Tax-Aide was one of AARP’s first programs to offer volunteers an opportunity to deliver important services to older people. In its first year, just four Tax-Aide volunteers served 100 clients. Today AARP’s IRS-certified volunteers operate in more than 7,000 locations nationwide. These volunteers—of diverse races, ethnic groups, income levels, and educational backgrounds—serve middle- and low-income taxpayers of all ages, with special attention to those age 60 and older.