It’s tax time

AARP, Senior Friendship Center offer free tax prep

By Tom Milstead
Posted 2/20/19

TORRINGTON – With the United States tax code growing more complicated every year, the AARP Foundation and Torrington Senior Friendship Center have partnered to help anyone with limitations – not just seniors – navigate the red tape and get their taxes filed on time – free of charge.

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It’s tax time

AARP, Senior Friendship Center offer free tax prep

Posted

TORRINGTON – With the United States tax code growing more complicated every year, the AARP Foundation and Torrington Senior Friendship Center have partnered to help anyone with limitations – not just seniors – navigate the red tape and get their taxes filed on time – free of charge. 

According to a press release from the foundation, the Tax-Aide program will provide free assistance with filing taxes until April 15. Since the program began in 1968, more than 68 million people have filed their taxes through the program. Locally, folks can take advantage of the program at the Torrington Senior Friendship Center. 

The center has been providing tax help for at least 15 years, Executive Director Linda Cockett said. Seniors do need to make an appointment to set up a time to complete their return. 

“They need to make an appointment first of all, because we are really booked up,” she said. “They need to bring last year’s tax form, and then there’s a form for this year that they need to come in and get ahead of time and have that completed.”

Cockett said the center’s Tax Aide volunteers have all undergone training to understand the latest changes to the tax code, and that can minimalize the risk of an audit. 

“Our volunteers go through training before they help so they’re up to date on all of the new tax laws and all of that,” she said.

Last tax season, 2,835 Wyoming residents filed their takes through Tax Aide. Those Wyoming residents received around $2.3 million in tax refunds. Sara Narramore, Regional Director for Tax Aide in Wyoming, said training provides peace of mind for people who utilize the program.

“Taxes are something that people are afraid of getting wrong and once they find out we are trained by the IRS, they are excited and they tell their friends and it builds and builds every year,” she said.

Narramore said the program is a way for seniors and others with limitations to save a few bucks and protect themselves from other tax services that could take advantage of them. 

“I do this because I love to help others,” she said. “This is one thing I am capable of doing that helps so many people in my community. These tax services can be very high-priced and this service can help seniors with those costs.”