Beginning today and continuing through April 17, the AARP Foundation is providing free tax assistance and preparation through its Tax-Aide program.
“Tax-Aide is aimed at people who can’t afford to pay someone else to do their taxes. For someone on a fixed income, saving money on taxes can make a big difference,” said Barbara Kim Stanton, AARP Hawaii state director. “In 2017, we helped people claim $820,888 in Earned Income Tax Credits in Hawaii, a deduction that about a quarter of eligible taxpayers miss. In total, our volunteers helped Hawaii taxpayers get $4.6 million in refunds.”
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, celebrating 50 years of service, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service. Since its inception, the program has served more than 50 million taxpayers.
In Hawaii, 217 AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers helped 12,871 people file their federal and state tax returns in 2017. The program is offered at 28 sites, including senior centers, libraries and other convenient locations.
To find an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site or more information, including which documents to bring to the tax site, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxhelp or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669).
For five days only, on Tuesdays starting Feb. 6 to March 6, AARP counselors will prepare 1040 tax forms at no cost at the Lihue Neighborhood Center from 9 to 11 a.m.
Bring identification, Social Security number, all W2, 1099, G49s and complete tallied information for your return. Must be over 50, no rentals, no complicated forms. 246-4500
On Feb. 7 and Feb. 14 AARP counselors will prepare 1040 tax forms at the Kilauea Senior Center from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. 246-4500.
Goodwill Hawaii is also taking appointments to help individuals or families — who earned $54,000 or less in 2017 and do not own a home or business — prepare and file their taxes for free.
New this year, in addition to the in-person appointments, Goodwill is offering drop-off services at its clinic locations except Windward Oahu.
“Filing taxes can be a very daunting and stressful task, but we’ve got a great team of IRS certified, volunteer tax filers who are eager to assist and make the process seamless from start to finish,” said Katy Chen, chief operating officer of Goodwill Hawaii. “Last year, families who came to Goodwill Hawaii for assistance received an average refund of $2,000. The best part of our service is families can keep their entire refund whereas other tax return preparers usually charge a fee or take a percentage of the refund.”
Eligible participants can schedule an appointment online at higoodwill.org or call 836-0313 to visit one of the seven tax clinics open statewide through April 7. Locations include one in Lihue, three on Oahu in Honolulu, Kapolei and Windward Oahu, two on the Big Island in Hilo and Kona and one in Kahului, Maui.
Drop-off services will be available from Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a three-day turnaround time.
Last season, Goodwill Hawaii assisted more than 2,200 households to file their federal and Hawaii state tax returns who received over $4 million in tax refunds and credits. On average, each household serviced by Goodwill received a tax refund of $2,000.
The Goodwill Hawaii location on Kauai is the Goodwill Kauai Office, 4334 Rice Street Suite 205, Lihue. In-person appointments: First and Third Thursday of every month, 2 to 5 p.m. Drop-off appointments: Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
