AARP tax help is for everyone
Free assistance is available twice a week through the tax season.
With the income tax season in full swing, a free filing service provided by the Rome chapter of AARP might be just what you are looking for.
The group provides free tax preparation assistance to anyone that needs help. Despite being funded by the AARP, no age group or financial situation is turned away. The program, which is offered nationwide, has grown over the past few years in the Rome area and they are constantly in need of more volunteers to help.
“I have been doing taxes with Tax-Aide for 20 years,” said Bill Harrison. “I joined the group after retiring from General Electric in Rome in hopes of learning more about taxes so that I could keep up with my own deductions and how things are changing. We have always helped anyone that shows up — but we do try to help seniors first.”
The group currently consists of six volunteers — a smaller group than years before. All the members agree, they could use a few more people to help next year, since it’s too late to sign up for this year.
“Volunteers apply at the AARP website and are scheduled for training in January,” Harrison explained.
Jewel Turner, the only certified accountant in the group, said that what makes the program special is that they take “literally anyone who walks in the door in need.”
Turner said that a lot of people think that because their income level is low they do not have to file a return every year.
“That is simply incorrect,” Turner said. “The government would rather process a zero dollar return than fight to get back money that was dispersed incorrectly because of identity theft where a false return was filed with your Social Security number.”
Turner said as identity theft has grown into a huge problem for low income families and senior citizens.
“Filing a return regardless of your income protects your identity, could help you financially and with the new security of Georgia requesting your driver’s license number — helps to make sure your information is never stolen,” Turner explained.
Sitting down with Gordon Leiter, the program coordinator for the Rome area, it is easy to see how seriously he takes the work the group is doing. He has been preparing taxes with the Tax-Aide program for the last 24 years and plans to meet his goal of 25 years next year.
“When I retired I said to myself ‘The world has been good to me,’” Leiter explained. “I want to spend my time doing things that help others that need it.”
Anyone interested in participating in the program should apply on the
‘I have been doing taxes with Tax-Aide for 20 years. I joined the group after retiring from General Electric in Rome in hopes of learning more about taxes so that I could keep up with my own deductions and how things are changing. We have always helped anyone that shows up — but we do try to help seniors first.’ Bill Harrison Tax-Aide volunteer
AARP Tax-Aide website and contact Leiter after completing the paperwork at 706-234-0931.
Anyone wishing to have their taxes prepared by the group can visit one of the two Rome sites:
The Rome-Floyd County Library at 205 Riverside Parkway on Mondays through April 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays through April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Charles C. Parker Senior Center in Etowah Park at 1325 Kingston Highway on Wednesdays through April 11 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
Anyone wishing to have their taxes prepared should bring at minimum their tax papers from last year, their picture ID and their SSN card.