What AARP offers on taxes and why it matters

AARP runs a free tax preparation program called Tax-Aide that pairs you with a trained volunteer who can help you understand your tax situation and prepare your return. The program is open to anyone 60 and older, regardless of AARP membership. Tax-Aide volunteers work from February through April at libraries, senior centers, and community sites across the country — you do not pay for the service.

AARP also publishes guides and articles about retirement tax topics: how Social Security affects your taxes, what deductions older adults often miss, how to handle income from pensions or investments, and what changes happen when you turn 73 (the age when required minimum distributions from retirement accounts begin). These are educational resources meant to help you understand the rules, not to replace a tax professional's information for complex situations.

The IRS itself offers free tax preparation through VITA (Volunteer Income Tax information) sites, which are separate from Tax-Aide but serve the same purpose. AARP's Tax-Aide program is one of the largest VITA networks in the country.

Key Takeaways

  • AARP Tax-Aide is a free volunteer tax preparation service for people 60 and older, available February through April at local sites.
  • You can find a Tax-Aide location near you through AARP's website, and you do not need to be an AARP member to use the service.
  • AARP publishes free guides on Social Security taxation, retirement account withdrawals, and deductions that explore to older adults.
  • Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified, but the service is best for straightforward returns; very complex situations may need a paid tax professional.

How to find and use AARP Tax-Aide

Start by visiting the AARP Tax-Aide locator at aarp.org/taxaide. Enter your zip code to see which sites near you offer the service. Most locations operate by appointment only, especially during peak tax season in March and April. Some sites also offer virtual appointments where you can meet with a volunteer by video or phone.

Bring your documents with you: your Social Security card or number, photo ID, last year's tax return if you have one, and all income documents (W-2s, 1099s, statements from banks or investment accounts, pension statements). If you own a home, bring property tax statements and mortgage interest statements. If you paid medical expenses, bring those records too.

The volunteer will walk through your return with you, answer questions about what counts as income or deductible expense, and file your return electronically if you want. The whole appointment usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how complex your situation is.

What Tax-Aide can and cannot do

Tax-Aide volunteers can prepare returns for people with straightforward income: wages, Social Security, pensions, interest, dividends, and rental income. They can help you understand whether you owe tax, whether you will get a refund, and what deductions you might be missing. They can also answer questions about how Social Security income is taxed and what happens when you have income from multiple sources.

Tax-Aide volunteers cannot represent you before the IRS if you are being audited, and they cannot handle very complex situations like business income with significant expenses, investment losses, or prior-year unfiled returns. If your situation falls into those categories, the volunteer will tell you that you need a tax professional — a CPA, enrolled agent, or tax attorney — and you may need to pay for that help.

Tax-Aide is also not the right fit if you need tax planning information for the year ahead (like whether to take money from a retirement account or delay Social Security). That kind of forward-looking guidance usually requires a paid professional who can look at your whole financial picture.

AARP's free tax guides and articles

Beyond Tax-Aide, AARP publishes articles and guides on its website about taxes in retirement. These cover topics like how much of your Social Security is taxed (which depends on your other income), what the standard deduction is for people over 65 (it is higher than for younger taxpayers), and which deductions older adults commonly overlook.

AARP also explains how required minimum distributions work when you turn 73, what happens to your taxes when you claim Social Security at different ages, and how to handle income from a part-time job or consulting work in retirement. These guides are meant to help you understand the rules and ask better questions of a tax professional, not to replace professional information.

You can find these articles by searching "taxes" or "retirement taxes" on AARP's website. They are free and do not require membership.

When to use Tax-Aide versus a paid tax professional

Use Tax-Aide if you have a straightforward return: you receive Social Security, a pension, or wages; you have interest or dividend income; you own a home and want to claim property tax or mortgage interest; or you want to understand whether you owe tax and what deductions you might be missing. Tax-Aide is also a good choice if you want to learn more about how taxes work in retirement and have questions a volunteer can answer.

Consider a paid tax professional if you have self-employment income, significant investment losses, rental property, multiple rental properties, prior-year unfiled returns, or an audit notice from the IRS. You should also see a professional if you are trying to decide whether to take money from a retirement account this year, whether to delay Social Security, or how to structure your income to minimize taxes — those decisions require looking at your whole financial picture, not just preparing this year's return.

A paid professional costs money, but the fee is often tax-deductible if you itemize deductions. Many CPAs and enrolled agents offer free initial consultations, so you can ask whether your situation is complex enough to warrant their help.

Other IRS resources for older adults

The IRS itself publishes a guide called Publication 554: Tax Guide for Seniors, which covers Social Security taxation, the higher standard deduction for people 65 and older, medical expense deductions, and other topics specific to retirement. You can read it free from irs.gov or order a printed copy.

The IRS also runs VITA sites separate from AARP Tax-Aide. If there is no Tax-Aide site near you, search for VITA on irs.gov to find another free tax preparation location. VITA sites serve people of all ages, but many have volunteers trained in retirement tax issues.

If you have questions about a specific tax rule, you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Wait times are long during tax season, but the IRS can answer questions about how a particular type of income is taxed or whether an expense is deductible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be an AARP member to use Tax-Aide?

No. Tax-Aide is open to anyone 60 and older, whether or not you are an AARP member. You do not pay a membership fee to use the service.

What if I missed the Tax-Aide season and need help with my taxes?

Tax-Aide runs February through April, but you can still file your return after that important date. Look for a VITA site in your area through irs.gov, or contact a paid tax professional. If you owe tax, filing late means you will owe penalties and interest, so it is worth getting help sooner rather than later.

Can Tax-Aide help me with state taxes too?

Most Tax-Aide sites prepare both federal and state returns, but this varies by location. When you find a site near you, the listing will say whether state returns are included. If not, the volunteer can usually point you toward a free state tax preparation resource.

What if my return is rejected after Tax-Aide files it?

If the IRS rejects your return, Tax-Aide can usually help you fix the problem and refile. Contact the site where you had your return prepared and explain what happened. They will work with you to correct the error.

Is the Tax-Aide volunteer a real tax professional?

Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS to prepare tax returns. They are not CPAs or enrolled agents, but they know tax law well enough to handle straightforward returns correctly. For complex situations, they will refer you to a professional.