When a 90-year-old Virginia woman struggled to file her taxes, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteer Carolyn Davis quickly stepped in to help. What seemed like a simple filing issue took a serious turn when Davis discovered the woman’s identity had been stolen and someone had already submitted a fraudulent return on her behalf. Davis and her team in Culpepper, Virginia immediately took steps to correct the situation and protect her financial security.
For many people, tax season brings stress on its own – let alone when something goes wrong. But volunteers like Davis, 75, and her sister, Charlotte Turner, 73, provide steady support and peace of mind, whether they’re helping with a straightforward return or navigating a complex tax challenge.
AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program is the largest free tax preparation service in the U.S., dedicated to assisting taxpayers 50-plus with low to moderate income. Since 1968, the program has supported more than 80 million individuals. In 2024 alone, nearly 28,000 Tax-Aide volunteers assisted over 1.6 million taxpayers, helping secure refunds exceeding $1.2 billion. These dedicated volunteers help ensure taxes are filed accurately so clients avoid overpayments and receive the credits and refunds they’re entitled to.
Davis began volunteering more than 15 years ago, starting as a greeter before working her way up to coordinating her region’s Tax-Aide operations. With a career background in tax preparation, she found new purpose in offering her skills at no cost.
“I wasn’t happy charging people for something they were legally required to do,” she says. “I saw an ad in my magazine to volunteer, and I thought, this is where I belong.”
Turner later joined her sister and now helps manage client appointments.
“People are afraid of having their taxes done,” Turner explains. “We try to make it okay – to reassure them. You might get money back, you might not, but don’t worry. We’re here to help.”
While many volunteers come to Tax-Aide with financial or tax backgrounds, the program welcomes people of all ages and experience levels.
Take Roy Lazaro, 25. He may be one of the youngest faces in the program, but he’s already a veteran volunteer. Lazaro began at age 14, greeting clients as part of his high school service hours. His mother, Sigal Ekhaus, 54, was already volunteering and encouraged him to join. Over time, Lazaro completed the 40-hour training to become certified to prepare tax returns.
“I see a lot of older people paying taxes they don’t have to pay,” he says. “Helping them keep that money – it always feels good.”
Tax-Aide provides full training, and volunteers can serve in many roles. Tax counselors prepare returns and help clients find earned credits. Client facilitators greet taxpayers, organize documents, and guide the service process. There are also opportunities in leadership, administration, technology assistance, bilingual support, and communications.
Volunteering doesn’t just help taxpayers – it benefits volunteers, too.
After retiring from federal service in 2017, Gena Cadieux sought a meaningful way to keep her mind active and stay socially engaged.
“You need things to do after retirement – you don't want to fall into the void,” she says. “Technology keeps evolving, and even though I’m not using a computer for work anymore, I’m still learning and growing. Tax-Aide has helped me with that.”
And sometimes, the assistance volunteers provide changes lives. Nevada coordinator Roger Holden recalls helping one older adult in a wheelchair recover more than $14,000 in refunds owed to him.
“He didn’t have much to his name,” Holden says. “That amount of money really changed his finances for the better.”
For more information about how to volunteer with AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaidevolunteer.