We Are Closed Until the 2026 Tax Season
All AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Sites in Thurston County are now closed. Our volunteer Tax Counselors are not available until the 2026 Tax Season to help taxpayers file their Federal Individual Income Tax Returns or to apply for the Washington State Working Families Tax Credit.
We will reopen our Tax-Aide sites for the 2026 Tax Season in early February 2026. We will open our Appointment Line and start taking appointments for the 2026 Tax Season in mid January 2026. If you would like notice when we reopen, you should subscribe to our Annual Newsletter.
If you need assistance before then, your options are limited. You can (1) visit the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Online Tax Assistance webpage where you can Submit a Request for Tax Help; (2) look into preparing and e-filing your own tax return through the IRS Direct or IRS Free File Program (for households whose Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $79,000 or less); or (3) seek help from a paid tax preparer. The IRS has guidance on selecting a paid tax preparer and a directory for finding one on this webpage.
Taxpayers Who Missed the April 15 Tax Filing Deadline Should Pay Their Taxes and File As Soon as Possible
Taxpayers who missed the April 15, 2025 but owe taxes should file their return AND pay the taxes they owe as soon as they can to avoid additional penalties and interest. While taxpayers can get an extension to file their return late, this does not excuse them from paying their taxes on time.
Even if a taxpayer cannot afford to pay immeditely the full amount of taxes owed, they should still file a tax return and pay as much as possible to minimize the penalties and interest they will otherwise incur. The IRS offers options for taxpayers who need help paying their tax bill. To learn more about penalties, visit this IRS webpage. Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they have filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other requirements. For more information, visit this IRS webpage.
Get an Extension to File Your Tax Return
If you need more time to file your taxes, request an extension by the April 15, 2025 filing deadline. This gives you until October 15 to file without penalties. Make sure you pay any tax you owe by the April filing date. The extension is only for filing your return. It does not extend the deadline for paying any taxes due. When requesting an extension, you should estimate how much tax you owe for the year and pay these taxes by April 15, 2025 to avoid having to pay a “failure to pay” penalty and additional interest.
To learn more, visit this IRS webpage. You can use Direct File or IRS Free file to electronically request an automatic tax-filing extension. You can also request an extension by mail, using Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
For further guidance, watch this IRS Video:
Where's My Refund
You can check on the status of your Federal tax refund by using the IRS Where’s My Refund? tool.
Learn More About IRS Online Accounts and How to Create One
You can use an IRS Online Account to securely access the latest information available about your federal tax account and see information from your most recently filed tax return.
Access tax records.
Get or retrieve your Identity Protection (IP) Pin.
View or Create Payment Plans.
View your tax owed.
- Manage your communication preferences from the IRS.
View the status of your refund as it’s being processed.