AARP, VITA Have Last-Minute Tax Help Available

Free services offered to low-, moderate-income PA residents

By Staff Reports
The Tube City Almanac
April 09, 2024
Posted in: State & Region

Spalding County, Ga., resident Dan Garvin was receiving free tax preparation help from University of Georgia students and Spalding County Extension Agent Cindee Sweeda in this file photo. (File photo by Sharon Dowdy/University of Georgia via Twitter. Licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC 2.0 Deed)

With less than a week to go before the deadline for most federal and state income tax and municipal wage tax forms, Pennsylvania residents who need assistance in filing their returns can use the free services of the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program. You don’t have to be an AARP member or a senior citizen to get help.

Francis Tremel, Pennsylvania state coordinator for the program, said that while Tax-Aide volunteers assist people of all ages, their main focus is on serving individuals with low to moderate incomes.

“Last year, over 1.5 million Tax-Aide participants nationwide saved more than $1.1 million in refunds and credits. I work also at the Indiana office,” Tremel said. “And we will do 1,200 returns this year, which is a very significant number for individuals that really need the assistance.”

Tremel said volunteers are trained and IRS-certified to ensure they are caught up on the latest changes to federal tax code. He added that volunteers can help in most cases; the only restriction would be if a return is very complicated, such as a business return that requires depreciation to be shown.

Tax-Aide is a full-service tax program that assists Pennsylvanians with federal, state and local returns and the Pennsylvania tax rebate program, and he explained that the program offers several options for taxpayers to get assistance.

“Obviously the in-person is probably the most popular, at least here in western Pennsylvania,” he said. “And we also have a drop-off service that has a very specific set of guidelines set up to assure taxpayer privacy and confidentiality of their documents.”

Tremel said Tax-Aide also offers online coaching, facilitated self-assistance and self-preparation where taxpayers prepare their own return using a software product made available through the website. Pennsylvanians can find the closest site at AARPfoundation.org/TaxAide.

—Danielle Smith, Keystone State News Connection

United Way tax-prep coalition served 8,000 families in 2023

United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Free Tax Preparation volunteers are also still accepting appointments, said spokeswoman Blair Nelson.

To find a tax-preparation site, visit www.pa211.org/vita.

United Way’s tax-prep coalition is are available to residents in Allegheny, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties, Nelson said. Services are provided in partnership with nonprofit, education and community organizations, without any fees.

“Taxes alone can feel burdensome for hard-working families trying to make ends meet. When you add service fees on top of that, the process can be overwhelming and expensive,” said Alena Anderson, director of Moving Toward Financial Stability for United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

“Many families are unaware of the additional funds they could receive from the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit,” she said. “Our volunteers help filers get the money they have earned and deserve so they can put food on the table, buy their children’s school supplies, pay for transportation, build up their savings account and so much more.”

This year, more than 300 volunteers have signed up through the United Way to help residents prepare their taxes. Services include locations that are accessible for people using wheelchairs; email, chat, and phone support for people who file online; over-the-phone interpretation in more than 170 languages; Language-Line services for people who are hard of hearing or deaf; and partnerships with agencies who can help filers who do not have a social security number. 

Just Harvest, a United Way partner agency, oversees training and coordinates operations across the coalition.

Last year, 280 volunteers working at 20 free tax prep locations prepared nearly 8,000 returns, saving more than $2 million in tax preparation fees and generating $10.6 million in refunds.

To find free tax preparation services through United Way, visit www.pa211.org/vita, dial 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to 898-211. Services are available for individuals with a total income of up to $45,000 and families with a total annual income up to $65,000.

Free, do-it-yourself online tax assistance is available through My Free Taxes for all individuals and families, regardless of income, Nelson said.

Originally published April 09, 2024.

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