RSVP/AARP Tax-Aide Program

The Americorps Seniors/AARP Tax-Aide Program continues to provide free federal and state (Maryland) tax preparation services for low-to-moderate income taxpayers who live or work in Montgomery County.  Special attention is given to those 60 years old and older.  Our program runs during tax season.  This year, we hope to open our tax preparation season on February 1st and finish on April 15th.  However, if the US Government delays the tax deadline, we will shift our dates.
This year we are operating under Covid protocols, developed by the AARP in consultation with Johns Hopkins mapping and within our CDC, state and county guidelines.  Your experience in getting taxes done will be different given those protocols, but we do hope to provide our usual level of service. 

" What AARP Tax-Aide Can Do For You" (Not yet available updated) provides more information on which returns are considered simple and which are too complex (out-of-scope) for the program. Please read this information before making an appointment. Taxpayers with complex tax returns will be advised to seek paid tax assistance.

Normally, the SC/AARP Tax-Aide program prepares taxes at more than 20 different locations across Montgomery County. This year, given program restrictions, we hope to provide scanning services in five or six sites in Montgomery County.  There will be no face-to-face tax preparation services offered this year.  All interaction with tax-preparers will be done via phone or computer, so complete and accurate contact information will be essential. 

 

To respect your time as well as safety protocols, we work by appointment only.


Scheduling phone line is expected to open to make calls for appointments on
Monday, February 8, 2021. 
240-777-2577
More details coming soon!

Taxpayer: Your Tax Preparation Appointment

When you arrive at the site for your tax paperwork scanning appointment, you will have already completed the Intake/Interview & Quality Review Sheet with assistance as necessary via phone or computer online meeting.  In addition, you will have spoken to a tax counselor to make sure that all documents necessary have been gathered as required. It is critical that you be very well prepared before your scanning site appointment.  Our Covid Safety protocols require that the scanning appointment be short (up to 15 minutes), which means lots of preparation before taxes can be prepared.  This pre-scanning telephone or computer appointment will be a requirement for anyone wishing to do taxes this year via AARP Tax-Aide program. 

When you call the Scheduling Office for an appointment, you will be asked if you need required paperwork sent to you by US mail, or whether you are able to download and print all required forms.   Because of the pre-appointment preparation time frames, including counselor interview and mailing of forms, most appointments will be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.   A second appointment, to pick up your completed tax form copies and to sign e-filing permission, may need to be scheduled one to two weeks after the first intake appointment. 

Bring the Intake/Interview & Quality Review Sheet and all supporting tax documents (see What to Bring below) to your appointment, with the required government-issued ID and Social Security cards.  Without all of the required paperwork, you will be turned away from your appointment.

Taxpayer: What to bring to your appointment

General

  • Last year’s (2019) tax return(s), or 2018 if you were unable to file 2019.
  • Social Security cards for yourself and every individual on your return (required this year).
  • Photo I.D. required for all taxpayers.
  • Checkbook if you want to direct deposit any refund(s) into your bank account.

Income

  • W-2 from each employer
  • Unemployment compensation statements
  • SSA-1099 Form showing the total Social Security benefits paid to you for the year, or Form RRB-1099, Tier 1 Railroad Retirement benefits
  • 1099 Forms reporting interest (1099-INT), dividends (1099-DIV), proceeds from sales (1099-B), as well as documentation showing the original purchase price of your sold assets
  • 1099-R Form if you received a pension, annuity, or IRA distribution
  • 1099-MISC Forms
  • Information about other forms of Income
  • State or local income tax refunds

Payments

  • All forms and canceled checks indicating federal and state income tax paid (including quarterly estimated tax payments)

Deductions

Most taxpayers have a choice of taking either a standard deduction or itemizing their deductions. If you have a substantial amount of deductions, you may want to itemize. You will need to bring the following information:

  • 1098 Form showing any home mortgage interest
  • A list of medical/dental expenses (including doctor and hospital bills and medical insurance premiums), a list of prescription medicines, costs of assisted living services, and bills for home improvements such as ramps and railings for people with disabilities
  • Summary of contributions to charity
  • Receipts or canceled checks for all quarterly or other paid tax
  • Property Tax bills and proof of payment
Please note: If you itemized last year, bring all the information on the deductions listed above this year. Although the standard deduction has increased under the new tax law, it may be advantageous to itemize to minimize both federal and Maryland taxes. 

Health Insurance

  • 1095A Forms if you purchased insurance through the Marketplace (Exchange)

Credits

  • Dependent care provider information (name, employer ID, or Social Security number)
  • 1098-T and 1098-E Forms (Tuition and Student Loan Interest)
  • Along with 1098-T, bring Student Account Statement for 2019 - downloaded from the Bursar's Office

Snow Policy

There will be a recorded message on 240-777-2577 listing the status of all Tax-Aide scanner locations for the day, whether open or closed. 

Senior Corps Logo Tax-Aide is a program of  Montgomery County's AmeriCorps Senior RSVP program (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Logo

 


Acuity Scheduling logo  The Montgomery County Tax-Aide program expresses its gratitude to Acuity Scheduling, Inc. for its donation of the Acuity Scheduling software. 

Other free tax preparation services in Montgomery County

AARP Foundation's Alternative Tax Preparation (ATP) Program is set up to help taxpayers do their own taxes. The taxpayer will enter their own data into web based tax software.  The ATP Program can answer tax questions concerning the documents and the tax forms. It is all virtual. More information and to register can be found at https://www.aarp.org/taxaide. Site will be live on 1/22/21.
 
Also see more here:    https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cashback/index.html