Three Programs That Help Senior Citizens Complete Their Income Taxes

By superadmin | February 22, 2018 |

It’s tax time again. It’s the time of year that makes many people feel stressed. For seniors, tax time can be confusing. There’s a lot of paperwork to do, forms to gather, and rules to understand. Changing tax laws complicate matters.

Some seniors decide to spend money on tax preparation software each year. There are free programs that seniors can use to complete their yearly tax returns. Here are the three tax programs for seniors.

Home Care in Memorial TX: Programs to Help Seniors with their Taxes

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program.

AARP has volunteers who provide free tax preparation services to men and women who meet age and income requirements. Tax filers must be 50 years or older and fall in the range of low to moderate income levels.

Visit AARP.org to find an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program representative near your parents. When you bring them to file their taxes, they need to bring prior tax returns, Social Security cards and photo IDs, tax forms received from employers, government agencies, and financial institutions. They also need bank account information if they expect a refund.

State Department of Taxes Programs.

Check with your state’s Department of Taxes. They may have a program your parents can use to get help filing taxes. One program that is available nationally is the VITA program. IRS volunteers help men and women with an income of $54,000 or less.

VITA in your mom and dad’s area may partner with the AARP’s senior tax program. The VITA program is usually found in local libraries and senior centers. Appointments are often required. When you make an appointment, make sure you pay attention to anything you’re told to bring. You don’t want to show up and find that you’ve forgotten something important.

Tax Counseling for the Elderly.

Volunteers working with the IRS’s Tax Counseling for the Elderly provide free tax advice and counseling to men and women who are 60 or older. They will do individual taxes with 1099s, education credits, and earned income. There are some tax forms that volunteers are unable to help seniors complete.

Getting your mom or dad to an appointment with a free tax preparer may be difficult when you work. If transportation is becoming a hassle, look into home care services.

Home care provide multiple benefits. First, your parents have a companion around. Second, they’ll have help with household chores. Third, there is transportation when needed. You won’t have to arrange your work day to fit your parents’ needs.