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What is AARP Foundation Tax-Aide?

Reviewed by Eric Schwarberg, JD August 2026

Short answer

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is a free, IRS-sponsored tax preparation service run by trained, IRS-certified volunteers, with a focus on taxpayers 50 and older who have low-to-moderate income, but anyone can use it, and you don’t need to be an AARP member. It runs roughly February through mid-April at thousands of community sites nationwide, and volunteers can prepare most basic to moderately complex returns, though they typically can’t handle things like small businesses with employees, rental income, or Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) situations.

See details

Qualifying for Tax-Aide

Tax-Aide’s focus is taxpayers 50 and older with low to moderate income, but there’s no hard income or age cutoff written into eligibility, so the program doesn’t turn away younger filers or higher earners who show up at a site.

Note: Tax-Aide never requires an AARP membership.

What Tax-Aide can and can’t prepare

Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified, but that certification covers common situations, not every tax scenario.

Tax-Aide can prepareTax-Aide generally can’t prepare
Wages and unemployment incomeSmall businesses with employees or inventory
Simple investment income like interest and dividends, as well as capital gains/lossesComplex investment transactions, like the sale of a home with special circumstances
Self-employed income (with limits) and estimated tax paymentsHobby income or other activities not for profit
Social Security and most retirement or pension incomeMoving expenses
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)Rental income
Standard deduction and common creditsAlternative Minimum Tax (AMT), Additional Medicare Tax, and Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)

Source: AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

If a Tax-Aide site isn’t nearby or can’t take your return, see other ways to file your taxes for free, including Credit Karma’s own free filing option.

Note: They can help you file amendments and prior-year tax returns (up to 3 years).

How Tax-Aide works

Tax-Aide offers a few ways to get help, depending on the site:

  • Full-service, in-person: A volunteer prepares and files your return with you at the site in one visit.
  • Drop-off or hybrid: You leave your documents with a volunteer, who prepares the return and reviews it with you at a second, shorter visit.
  • Self-prep with volunteer guidance: You prepare your own return using guided software while an IRS-certified volunteer is on hand to answer questions.

How to find a Tax-Aide site and what to bring

  1. Use the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site locator, or call 1-888-227-7669, to find sites near you.
  2. Ask whether the site offers full-service, drop-off, or self-prep help. Not every site runs every format.
  3. Gather your documents, such as:
    • Photo ID
    • Social Security cards for you and any dependents
    • Last year’s tax return
    • This year’s income forms (W-2s, 1099s, SSA-1099)
  4. Plan ahead for peak-season demand. Appointments at popular sites can fill up fast in February and March, so book early or ask about walk-in hours.

Tax-Aide vs. VITA

Tax-Aide is one of several no-cost ways to file. Here’s how it stacks up against the other two most common filing options for seniors and low-income individuals:

ProgramAge/income focusService style
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide50+ with low to moderate income; open to anyone, no AARP membership requiredIn-person, hybrid drop-off, or self-prep with a coach
VITA$69,000 or less; also people with disabilities or limited English proficiencyIn-person prep by IRS-certified volunteers
TCEPrioritizes filers 60 years of age and older; no income limitIn-person, IRS-certified volunteers

Source: 1, 2

How Can You File Taxes For Free? Do I Have to File Taxes? What Documents Do You Need To File Taxes? How do you file taxes for the first time? How much do you have to make to file taxes? What is a tax return?