AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program Seeks Volunteers to Help Maine Taxpayers
Volunteers Needed to Assist Older, Low-Income Mainers for 2025 Tax Season
AUGUSTA: AARP Foundation is currently recruiting passionate people throughout Maine to join its Tax-Aide volunteer team for the 2025 tax season. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program.
Tax filing season may be months away, but the Maine Tax-Aide team is already seeking volunteers to serve their community. 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 Tax Counselors are especially needed to help meet the growing demand for Tax-Aide services,” says Pat Wehner, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Recruiting Coordinator. “They provide free tax preparation and filing services to taxpayers. Other volunteer roles are also available to 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. During tax filing season (February 1 to mid-April), volunteers assist taxpayers while the local Tax-Aide sites are in operation. Weekly time commitments vary depending on the volunteer role and needs of the local site.
All levels and types of experience are welcome. Volunteers come from a variety of industries, and their ages range from retirees to college students. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers do not need to be AARP members in order to participate in this opportunity.
For the 2024 tax season In Maine, 240 volunteers across 47 sites filed 13,671 Federal returns, helping Maine taxpayers receive $10.4 million in Federal refunds. They also filed over 15,000 State income tax returns, helping many Mainers receive refunds, as well as Maine Property and Sales Tax Fairness credits for those eligible.
Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program since it began in 1968.
“Tax-Aide volunteers make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable older adults right in their communities by helping build their financial resilience,” says Wehner. “Even modest refunds can impact the lives of older adults, especially those living with low incomes.”
To learn more details about Tax-Aide volunteer roles, and to apply on-line, visit: www.aarpfoundation.org/taxaidevolunteer
For more information or questions on Tax-Aide volunteer opportunities in your community, contact the Maine Tax-Aide team at mainetaxaide@gmail.com, or call (207) 441-2784.
