The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program needs volunteers to Help Maine taxpayers

Tax filing season may be months away, but the Maine Tax-Aide team is already seeking volunteers who want to serve their community through the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program.  Tax-Aide focuses on serving older adults with low to moderate income and helps them secure much needed tax refunds and credits for which they may qualify on their U.S. and Maine state income tax returns.  

Tax-Aide volunteer counselors are especially needed to help meet the growing demand for Tax-Aide services!    They provide free tax preparation and filing services to taxpayers.  Other roles are also available for volunteers to help schedule appointments, greet clients, and assist taxpayers in organizing their tax paperwork when they arrive at the Tax-Aide site for their appointment.

All volunteers are trained, and classes are generally held in December or January for the upcoming tax filing season. The amount of training required depends on the position.

During tax filing season (February 1 through mid-April), volunteers will assist taxpayers while the local Tax-Aide sites are in operation.  Weekly time commitments vary, and may range between 4 and 20 hours a week, depending on the volunteer role and needs of the local site.  

For the 2024 tax season across the United States:  27,771 volunteers at 3,600 sites helped 1,680,084 taxpayers receive $1,280,817,176 in Federal refunds.  In Maine, 240 volunteers across 47 sites filed 13,671 Federal returns, helping Maine taxpayers receive $10.4 million in Federal refunds.  Maine volunteers also filed over 15,000 State income tax returns, helping many Mainers receive refunds and state tax credits (Property and Sales Tax Fairness) for which they were eligible.

All levels and types of experience are welcome!  Volunteers come from a variety of industries, range from retirees to college students.  Volunteers do not need to be AARP members.