How to make life less taxing

Did you know that you can learn a useful skill that will help yourself and help others at the same time?

Here’s how: Volunteer to help older Americans and others figure out their taxes.

You don’t have to be a tax professional to get involved. Volunteers receive free tax training and are reimbursed on a limited basis for qualified program-related expenses.

In addition, the program needs coordinators, greeters and many other roles filled to serve all its clients each tax season. The service is particularly in need of volunteers who are bilingual in English and Spanish to support the increasing number of Spanish-speaking taxpayers seeking assistance.

AARP Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service served more than 2.6 million taxpayers and saved its clients more than $115 million in tax preparation fees last year alone. Taxpayers who file a federal tax return with a refund due to them can also get help investing the money in_America’s future. They can purchase savings bonds in multiples of $50, up to $5,000, using all or a portion of their refund.

For information on how you can join the AARP Tax-Aide team, visit www.aarp.org/ta volunteer8 (English only) or call their toll-free number, 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277).

For information visit www. aarp.org/TaxAide.