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AARP Foundation Seeking Volunteers in Gainesville To Help Local Taxpayers

Clients wait in line at the downtown Gainesville branch of the Alachua County Tax Collector's Office. Local tax collector's offices experienced higher traffic after the newly effective drop in vehicle tag fees.
Clients wait in line at the downtown Gainesville branch of the Alachua County Tax Collector's Office. Local tax collector's offices experienced higher traffic after the newly effective drop in vehicle tag fees.

The AARP Foundation in Gainesville is recruiting volunteers for its Tax-Aide program, the nation’s largest volunteer-based tax preparation services.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has grown since its inaugural team of just four volunteers in 1968 and has served over 68 million taxpayers since its inception. The program has volunteers in every state who typically number more than 30,000. Volunteers can assume a variety of roles to assist taxpayers while working in person or virtually. The Tax-Aide program is currently seeking volunteers to work as tax preparers -- to be trained -- as well as interpreters, program leaders and communications or technical assistants.

"Volunteers come from a variety of industries and range from retirees to university students. All levels and types of experience are welcome," said Carol Sarisky, AARP Tax-Aide District Coordinator for Alachua County.

The Tax-Aide program offers free in-person and online tax preparation and assistance nationwide to taxpayers with low-to-moderate income.

"Because of the complexity of the U.S. tax code, many taxpayers overpay their taxes or turn to paid tax services they cannot afford," Sarisky said. "Some may forgo filing their taxes and miss out on the credits and deductions they’ve earned because they are unable to pay for assistance."

The program helped file over 800 tax returns in Alachua County last year, a number that was reduced from around 1,200 to 1,500 due to the pandemic.

To learn about our volunteer opportunities, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-OURAARP (1-888-687-2277). AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in coordination with the IRS.

Alex is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.