Two organizations are offering free tax assistance to local residents with low to moderate incomes to help individuals and families prepare for tax season.
• AARP is scheduled to provide Tax Aide preparation services Monday mornings Feb. 6 through April 17 at the Los Altos Senior Program’s Hillview Community Center location, 97 Hillview Ave.
The Tax Aide service, sponsored by the AARP Foundation, is the nation’s largest volunteer tax assistance program. Los Altos has hosted a Tax Aide site for more than 17 years.
Trained and certified volunteers meet with clients, review their paperwork and records, and prepare and electronically file both federal and California tax returns.
“We can prepare returns for wages, Social Security, self-employment income and more,” said Robert Ward of the AARP Foundation. “There is really no reason to go to a paid preparer.”
Ward said that while AARP targets people 60 years old and up, volunteer tax preparers will not turn anyone away due to age, income level or residence.
“Anybody can make a reservation – they may not even necessarily be a senior,” he said. “The only restriction is the complexity of the tax return.”
To make an appointment and for more information, call the Los Altos Senior Program at 947-2797.
• The Mountain View Public Library is scheduled to offer free tax preparation assistance 2-7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the library, 585 Franklin St.
To be eligible for the program, an individual must have earned $33,000 or less and qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
The service will offer assistance in both English and Spanish.
The service is provided in conjunction with the Computer and Communication Industry Association and the Intuit Freedom.
To make an appointment and for more information, call (866) 577-1231.
