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Free tax clinics in Arlington are handling about 50 appointments a day as residents seek help preparing and filing their returns.
AARP Tax-Aide is providing the service at Central Library on Quincy Street and the Columbia Pike branch. The nationwide program assisted more than 1.7 million people during the 2024 tax year through 28,000 volunteers working at 3,300 sites.
Karen Miller, the local coordinator at Central Library, said the Arlington clinic has completed about 700 returns since opening in February. Although Tax-Aide is geared toward seniors, volunteers also assist many families and some students.
There is no income limit for the standard service, but volunteers cannot prepare certain returns. They can assist some small businesses and many rideshare drivers, for example, but not businesses with employees, investments or business losses.
Appointments receive priority, though walk-ins are also welcome. Three appointments are scheduled every 15 minutes, and two rooms at Central Library are used by tax counselors.
A typical visit takes about two hours. A counselor first interviews the taxpayer and prepares the return. A second volunteer reviews it before it is filed. More complicated returns may take longer.
Applicants should bring their Social Security card, a government-issued ID, W-2 and 1099 forms. A copy of the previous year’s return is also helpful. Participants must complete an intake, interview and quality-review form that explains which documents they need.
New filing option gets a soft launch
This year, the program introduced facilitated self-assistance for people who want to prepare their own returns with some guidance.
Tax-Aide provides the software, helps participants get online and answers questions as they begin. Users can finish the return at home or file it at the clinic.
The option is limited to people with incomes below $84,000. Participants must also have an email address, a phone capable of receiving text messages and sufficient computer skills. Miller said participation has been limited during what she described as a soft rollout.
A separate drop-off option developed during the COVID-19 pandemic remains available. Taxpayers complete an interview and leave their documents with volunteers, then return for a second appointment to finalize the forms. Those visits are generally scheduled near the end of the day.
About 35 volunteers support the Central Library program, with nine to 12 assisting taxpayers at a time. Some have served for years, while others are new. All must complete annual in-person training and practice exercises.
Central Library offers assistance from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays. The Columbia Pike branch holds clinics from noon to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.