Income tax help is available free through AARP Tax-Aide service at Senior Services Aurora and Yorkville locations, and this year at the Oswegoland Senior and Community Center, too.
“Tax time is stressful for most people, and especially our seniors,” said Karen DeAngelis, district coordinator for the AARP Tax-Aide program. “So, I enjoy being able to reduce their stress by giving them confidence that their tax return is completed and filed correctly. By talking with them, they feel they understand the process and what has been filed for them,” she said. “As a retired accountant, I saw Tax-Aide as a way of using my skill set to help others, and it keeps me active mentally and socially, as well.”
For more than 20 years, volunteers in our southwest Fox Valley area have been preparing income tax returns for individuals at local senior centers. The AARP Tax-Aide program started in 1968 in Florida. There are currently more than 4,000 sites and more than 25,000 volunteers nationwide, making it now the largest free-tax preparation service in America. Here in our area, the AARP Tax-Aide program operates each Spring at Senior Services Associates, Inc. at their Aurora location, 2111 Plum Street, First Floor, and in Yorkville at 908 Game Farm Road. And this year they have added three dates at the Oswegoland Senior and Community Center.
Under the direction of district coordinator Leon Bartelson, the AARP Tax-Aide program became a featured program at Senior Services more than 15 years ago. Ten years ago, DeAngelis joined Bartelson, starting as a tax preparer and then after four years she became his local coordinator. For this 2023 tax season, DeAngelis and Bartelson have flipped positions with Bartelson assisting as a local coordinator and DeAngelis as the district coordinator.
With these two trusted volunteer coordinators at the helm, the Tax -Aide volunteers successfully weathered the pandemic and continued to grow in numbers of taxes filed in an operation that spans 10 weeks, from February 6 through April 11.
The Tax Aide volunteers are trained yearly to prepare for each tax season, and must pass an IRS certification test. They are especially trained to address concerns of those over the age of 60. Although the program was designed to help those of low or moderate income, they can handle tax forms, long or short, for any individual of any age, without regard to income limits. There is no need to join AARP, either. Anyone can take advantage of this free service. The volunteers are not authorized to handle returns, however, for those individuals with rental units, farm income or those who are self employed with a business loss or expenses more than $35,000.
Clients need to pick up and complete an information form and have it available at their appointment. Needed are all their tax documents, including W-2 forms, 1099 forms, 1095-A (Marketplace Health Insurance), yearend brokerage statement, and a property tax bill if they own a home. Clients need to present photo identification, as well as Social Security card or other official documentation for everyone included in the return. They will want to provide their checking account number for direct deposit of refund, and have their 2022 tax return available for review.
Each appointment lasts approximately 60 minutes, and each individual tax return will be completed in person and double-checked during the appointment. All prepared returns will be filed electronically, after a quality review by a second Tax-Aide volunteer.
Because of the additional appointment days in Oswego, this season began with 1,200 possible appointments. Appointments are available Tuesdays through April 9 at the Aurora location and Thursdays through April 11 in Yorkville. In Oswego the Tax Aide program has appointments Wednesdays, March 6, 20, and April 3.
“Appointments are booking up quickly, don’t delay,” DeAngelis said, who added, “We are always looking for new volunteers. Those interested can apply online at aarpfoundation.org/taxaide.”
Barb Nadeau is a freelance writer, whose career has included more than 10 years as a public relations professional, 22 years as a professional television and radio host, print journalist, and volunteer coordination professional, networking among non-profit social service agencies and service providers throughout Illinois. She is a two-term elected alderman in the City government of Plano.