Tax season can be a stressful time for many seniors, especially those who are retired and living on a fixed income. Fortunately, there are organizations that offer assistance with filing taxes and other financial services. One such organization is AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons. AARP is a non-profit organization that provides services and resources to help seniors age with dignity. In this article, we will discuss whether AARP will do taxes for seniors in 2023 and what other services they offer.
Who is AARP?
AARP is an organization that serves people over the age of 50. They provide resources and services to help seniors live life to the fullest. They offer discounts on travel, health insurance, and other services. They also provide educational resources and advocacy for seniors on issues such as Social Security, Medicare, and retirement planning.
What Services Does AARP Offer?
AARP offers a wide range of services to help seniors with their everyday needs. These services include:
• Health Insurance: AARP provides health insurance plans for individuals over 50 years old as well as group plans for employers or organizations.
• Financial Planning: AARP offers free financial planning tools and advice to help seniors manage their finances and retirement savings.
• Travel Discounts: AARP members receive discounts on airfare, car rentals, hotels, cruises, and more.
• Tax Preparation: AARP provides free tax preparation services through its Tax-Aide program in partnership with the IRS.
• Advocacy: AARP advocates for seniors on issues such as Social Security, Medicare, prescription drug prices, and more.
How Does AARP Help Seniors with Taxes?
AARP’s Tax-Aide program provides free tax preparation service to low-income seniors who qualify for the program. The program is available from February 1st through April 15th each year at participating locations across the country.
The Tax-Aide program is staffed by trained volunteers who can help prepare simple tax returns for free or provide advice about complicated returns for a fee.
The service is available both online and in person at local tax preparation centers or libraries.
What Are the Benefits of Using AARP for Tax Preparation?
The most obvious benefit of using AARP’s Tax-Aide program is that it’s free or low cost compared to hiring a professional tax preparer or using expensive software programs to file taxes yourself. The volunteers who staff the program are certified by either the IRS or state tax authorities so you can trust that they are knowledgeable about tax laws and regulations. The volunteers are also familiar with senior-specific tax issues such as Social Security benefits, pension income, medical expenses deductions, etc., so they can ensure that you get all of the deductions you’re entitled to under the law. Another benefit is that the Tax-Aide program also offers Spanish language assistance so non-English speakers can get help filing their taxes accurately without having to pay extra fees for translation services or software programs that don’t support their language needs.
What Is the Cost of Using AARP for Tax Preparation?
The Tax-Aide program is free for simple returns; however if you have more complicated taxes then there may be a fee associated with filing them through the program depending on your state’s regulations (the fee varies by state). It’s important to note that if you use a volunteer preparer then you won’t be able to e-file your return; instead you’ll need to print it out and mail it in which could delay your refund by several weeks compared to e-filing your return directly through the IRS website or through another online tax preparation service like TurboTax or H&R Block (which have fees associated with them).
What Are the Drawbacks to Using AARP for Tax Preparation?
One potential drawback of using AARP’s Tax-Aide program is that it’s only available during certain times of year (February 1st through April 15th) so if you need help filing your taxes outside of this window then you’ll need to look elsewhere for assistance (such as hiring a professional tax preparer). Additionally, since the volunteers who staff this program aren’t professional tax preparers they may not be able to answer complex questions about your taxes or advise you on how best to structure your finances in order to maximize deductions/credits etc., which could cost you money in lost deductions/credits if not done properly by someone who knows what they’re doing (i.e., a professional). Finally, since this service is only available in person at local locations there may not be one close enough for you if you live in a rural area or somewhere without easy access to public transportation which could make it difficult/impossible to take advantage of this service even if it’s offered at all in your area during tax season each year..
Will AARP Do Taxes for Seniors in 2023?
Yes, AARP will do taxes for seniors in 2023 through its Tax-Aide program which runs from February 1st through April 15th each year at participating locations across the country (although some states may have different dates). The service is free for simple returns but there may be fees associated with filing more complicated returns depending on where you live (the fee varies by state). Additionally, since this service is only available in person at local locations there may not be one close enough for some seniors if they live in rural areas or somewhere without easy access to public transportation which could make it difficult/impossible to take advantage of this service even if it’s offered at all in their area during tax season each year..
How Can Seniors Prepare Their Own Taxes?
Seniors who want to prepare their own taxes can do so using online tax preparation software like TurboTax or H&R Block which both have paid versions that allow users to file their returns electronically directly through their websites (this can speed up refund processing time significantly compared to mailing paper returns). Additionally, some states offer free online filing options which can save money compared to using commercial software programs (check with your state’s department of revenue website for details). Finally, if none of these options are available then seniors can always opt out of filing altogether if their income falls below certain thresholds set by either federal or state law (again check with your state’s department of revenue website for details).
