This depends on your filing status, age, gross income, and whether another taxpayer may claim you as a dependent. It may also depend on a number of other factors, such as whether your received advance payments of the Premium Tax Credit. A Tax-Aide Counselor can help you figure out whether you are required to file a return. If you prefer, you can use this IRS Interactive Tax Assistant to figure this out: Do I Need to File a Tax Return?

Even if you are not required to file a federal tax return, you should file to get a refund of any tax withheld from your wages, pension, Social Security or other income or to recover any estimated tax payments you made. You should also file if you are eligible for a refundable credit, such as the Earned Income Credit (EIC) or Additional Child Tax Credit.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide recommends that all taxpayers consider filing a federal tax return to prevent tax identity theft.

While our volunteers are trained and IRS certified to handle most Federal income tax returns and schedules, there are some limits on what returns we can prepare.The Volunteer Protection Act requires that our volunteers stay within the “scope” of tax law set by the IRS for this program. If something about your return is “out of scope,” we cannot prepare or e-file your return. Whether we can prepare your return depends on your filing status, type of income and expenses and whether you might be subject to additional taxes most taxpayers do not pay.

We cannot prepare your return if at any time during 2023: (a) you received a digital asset, such as virtual currency (as a reward, award, or payment for property or services); or (b) sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of a digital asset (or a financial interest in a digital asset)? 

Here are some other examples of items that make a return out of scope:

• Self-employment if there are employees, losses, expenses that exceed $35,000, depreciation, business use of home, a desire to claim actual automobile expenses rather than mileage, or other complicating factors

• Certain income items on Schedule K-1

• Complicated capital gains/losses

• Rental income, except land-only rentals

• Royalty income with expenses if not from self-employment

• Alternative Minimum Tax, Additional Medicare Tax, or Net Investment Income Tax

For further information, please see our poster “How AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Can Help You Today.”

Please understand that whether or not a particular taxpayer’s return is out of scope is not always readily apparent. In some cases, our volunteers will have to interview you, review your tax documents, and discuss  your return with their Local Coordinator to decide if we can prepare your return.

If your return is out of scope, you can seek help from a paid tax preparer or prepare your own return. 

We cannot refer you to a specific tax preparer or make software recommendations. The IRS has tips on selecting a tax preparer which can be found here. They also have a directory you can use to find a paid, tax preparer. Watch this video to learn more.You may also want to watch this IRS video on how to “Choose a Tax Preparer Wisely.”

At a minimum, you must bring:

• Government issued photo ID (such as Driver’s License or Passport) for taxpayer and their spouse as well, if filing a joint return

• Social Security Card or other government document with full Social Security or ITIN numbers for every member of your tax household

• Current year tax information, including:

  • W-2 forms (wages, gambling winnings)

  • 1099 forms (Social Security benefits, pensions, IRAs, dividends, interest, unemployment benefits)

  • Brokerage statements

  • Real estate tax and mortgage interest statements

  • Scholarship, tuition, and student loan statements

  • Health Savings Account and medical insurance forms

  • Self-employment income and expense data

• Checkbook or bank document if you want to direct deposit a refund or make a payment to the IRS from your bank account.

• Last year’s tax return

This year taxpayers can pick up one of our Pre-Appointment Packets at one of our sites when open or download it here. This packet will include a list of documents needed to prepare your return.

Unless we have a Covid-19 surge, we plan to resume offering in-person tax preparation services this year as we did prior to the pandemic. In most cases, we will prepare your return in one visit, from start to finish, unless you are missing important tax documents.

A counselor will check your IDs and Social Security/ITIN cards, review your documents, ask you questions, and prepare your return.

A second counselor will do this again and quality review your return.

Once you sign a form approving the return and acknowledging that you are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the return, we will then e-file your return. We will not contact you again unless your return is rejected by the IRS.

Prior to arriving for your appointment, we recommend that you review our Taxpayer Information and Responsibilities Poster by clicking here. This poster provides further information about the Tax-Aide process.

There is no charge for our services and no fees of any kind. We are all volunteers. Our equipment and supplies are provided by  the AARP Foundation with grants from the IRS or  donations to the Foundation. The various locations where our volunteers work  allow us to use their facilities as a public service. Our volunteers are not allowed to accept gratuities or solicit or accept donations  at our sites. 

You may, if you wish, donate directly to the AARP Foundation by mailing a check payable to “AARP Foundation Tax-Aide” to the following address:

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program

601 E. Street, NW

Washington, DC 20049

If you wish, you can designate on your check that your monetary donation is being made for the benefit of the Washington State Tax-Aide program, District 20 which serves Thurston County, Washington.

Our volunteers must abide by IRS Standards of Conduct and Tax-Aide Policies and Procedures written to ensure that taxpayer data is kept confidential and secure at all times. We are only allowed to prepare returns using AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Chromebooks that pass rigid security tests.  Your return is prepared using IRS provided, online software over an encrypted connection to a remote location approved by the IRS. We electronically file your return from that location. We also take steps to securely store any taxpayer documents that are dropped off or scanned at one of our sites.

Yes. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers several other services for taxpayers, including its Alternative Tax Preparation Program where a Tax-Aide volunteer will coach you in preparing your own return using free software. Please visit the the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Service website for further information. If you want an IRS-certified volunteer to coach you while you prepare your own return online for free click the Request Help button found here.

The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) programs are IRS sponsored programs similar to Tax-Aide that offer free tax preparation services. To find a nearby VITA/TCE site, go to the IRS website “Find a Location for Free Tax Help.”

You can also find free, on-line software on the IRS website that will allow you to prepare and e-file your own return if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is $79,000 or less and your tax situation is relatively simple. IRS Free File is safe and secure. Taxpayer information is protected from unauthorized access while it’s sent to the IRS. IRS Free File partner companies cannot share or use tax return information for purposes other than tax return preparation without the taxpayer’s permission. No computer? No. Problem. IRS Free File products spport mobile phone access. Taxpayers can do their taxes on their smartphone or tablet. To learn moe about IRS Free File, watch this IRS video.

Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITC) assist low income individuals who have a tax dispute with the IRS, and provide education and outreach to individuals who speak English as a second language (ESL).

LITCs are independent from the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). LITCs represent individuals whose income is below a certain level and who need to resolve tax problems with the IRS. LITCs can represent taxpayers in audits, appeals, and tax collection disputes before the IRS and in court. LITCs can also help taxpayers respond to IRS notices and correct account problems. In addition, LITCs can provide information about taxpayer rights and responsibilities in different languages for individuals who speak English as a second language. Services are offered for free or a small fee.

Low Income Taxpayers can seek help from the University of Washington Tax Clinic in Seattle, Washington by calling (206)685-6805 or (866)866-0158 (toll free) Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. For further information, please visit their website.