skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Free Tax-Prep Sites Open to Help TN Residents File on Time

play audio
Play

Wednesday, February 5, 2020   

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- From now through April 15, Tennessee residents who need help getting their income taxes done can turn to the AARP Foundation's free Tax-Aide program at more than 60 community sites statewide.

While anyone can use the free tax-preparation service, Tax-Aide coordinator Emily Paul said it's geared for people who are lower-income and 50 or older, a demographic less likely to have access to a computer and online tax-prep tools. She said the Tax-Aide volunteers will need to see a person's tax documents, which can be brought to the nearest Tax-Aide location, often a library or senior center.

"All of your tax documents need to come in with you," she said. "We'll work to make sure that they all get put on the correct line. All of our counselors are IRS-certified and trained."

She noted that people don't have to be AARP members to use the program. For more information, look online at aarpfoundation.org/taxhelp or call 1-888-AARPNOW.

Paul said tax season is prime time for fraud. She said scammers recently have made phone calls pretending to be associated with the Tax-Aide program, but stressed that the AARP Foundation will never call a taxpayer unless they're returning a call to schedule an appointment.

"But you'll never get a call just out of the blue," she said. "And on that phone call, when you make the appointment, they will never ask you for any personally identifying information. No Social Security numbers, nothing like that."

Last year, the Tax-Aide program relied on more than 450 volunteers across Tennessee. Paul said volunteers still are needed for this season. It's good to have tax-preparation experience, but there are other volunteer positions available that don't require it.

"But just help people fill out all of the paperwork, get their paperwork organized and things like that, that doesn't require any hands-on computer work," she said.

According to the AARP Foundation, taxpayers who used the program last year nationwide received $1.6 billion in income tax refunds and more than $200 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.

More information is online at aarp.org.

Disclosure: AARP Tennessee contributes to our fund for reporting. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021