Free tax assistance provided to seniors

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AARP Tax-Aide volunteers, trained in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service,  will offer assistance with personal income tax returns at six locations around Clark County. AARP can provide free tax assistance to everyone regardless of age or income. 

Participants do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service.

New this year, nine locations will be open and all sites will have volunteers trained to assist taxpayers with tax issues related to Affordable Care Act (ACA), Health Savings Account (HSA), and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Starting Jan. 26, taxpayers can make appointments for the tax aide sites at:

• Battle Ground Community Library

• Camas City Library

• Cascade Park Community Library

• Clark Housing Resource Center (CHRC)

• Clark Public Safety Building

• Marshall Community Center

• Stevenson Community Library



• Three Creeks Community Library

• Vancouver (Main) Community Library

The phone number is (360) 690-4496, Ext 105.  Photo ID is required for the taxpayer, and spouse if present.

AARP Tax Aide can help prepare personal income tax returns, including free e-filing at all the locations.

This year the Social Security office will not be issuing letters in lieu of a social security card, so area residents should plan ahead and make sure they have the appropriate proof of social security or ITIN/ATIN for every person on their tax return, including all dependents.

They should also bring all income tax documents such as W-2s, social security statements, brokers statements, pension statements, interest and dividend forms, Health Savings (HSA), Health Insurance Marketplace Statements, as well as their prior year’s tax return.

If you worked at all in 2014 and earned between $1-$52,427 you may be eligible to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Although an estimated four out of five eligible workers and families receive the credit, one in five still miss out on EITC, either because they don’t claim it when filing, or don’t file a tax return. EITC is a valuable but complex tax break for working families, but free help is available.

Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified each year to ensure their knowledge of revisions to the U.S. tax code. If you have questions about what can and cannot be done, visit one of the tax sites for advice.

For more information about the locations, days and hours of operation, and what to bring to the site, call the toll-free number, 1-888-687-2277 or visit the SW Washington AARP Tax-Aide website at http://aarp-tax-aide-sw-washington.org/sites.html. 

AARP Foundation is AARP’s affiliated charity. Foundation programs provide security protection and empowerment for older persons in need. Low-income older workers receive the job training and placement they need to rejoin the workforce.

Free tax preparation is provided for low- and moderate-income individuals, with special attention to those 60 and older.  For more information about AARP Foundation, log on to www.aarp.org/foundation.