In previous years, Aging Care Connections has partnered with AARP’s Tax-Aide Program to provide locations where older adults can have their income tax forms prepared. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 AARP Tax-Aide Program income tax season will be much different than in past years.
There are only three AARP Tax-Aide program locations in our area that will accept appointments. These locations will not be taking appointments until February 15th and the AARP volunteers will not be meeting with taxpayers until February 22. The reason for this delay is due to Congress passing some new tax laws at the end of the year and because the IRS is not able to get their systems ready to accept returns until February 12th. If the AARP Tax-Aide program completes returns before the IRS is officially ready, they may have to redo returns and call the taxpayers back after giving them their initial return.
Please note the following:
- The sites will tentatively be open on a limited basis, beginning February 22, 2021.
- Appointments will not be made by telephone but will require a personal visit to the site by either the taxpayer or a representative of the taxpayer.
- When making the in-person appointment, the taxpayer or representative will be provided a packet of information that must be completed prior to the scheduled appointment.
- Failure to follow the instructions in their entirety may result in no tax returns being prepared.
- Appointments will not be made earlier than February 15, 2021.
- It is recommended taxpayers call the site the week of February 15 to ensure that no schedule changes have occurred.
- The sites that will be available during the 2021 filing season are listed below.
LaGrange Park Public Library 833-577-5283 Ext. 0
The Hinsdale Community House 630-323-7500 Ext. 0
Summit Public Library 708-458-1545
Please note that information is subject to change.
Springfield, IL – Low-to-moderate income families and older Illinoisans needing assistance filing their 2020 individual income taxes can receive free help through several trusted programs across the State of Illinois. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and AARP Tax-Aide programs are providing free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in select locations statewide. How taxpayer assistance is provided and when services are available varies by region, based upon several variables including COVID-19 conditions and volunteer capacity.
“Taxes are due on April 15 this year. If a qualified taxpayer needs help filling out their return, free assistance is available,” said David Harris, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. “While in-person assistance is more limited due to the COVID pandemic, certified volunteers are still available to help people over the age of 50 years and working-class taxpayers file their state and federal returns accurately and on time while ensuring the health and safety of taxpayers and volunteers.”
The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs offer free tax help for individuals making $57,000 or less, persons with disabilities, limited English speaking taxpayers and individuals 60 years of age or older. Taxpayers can search for a free tax assistance provider closest to them by visiting the Illinois Department of Revenue’s website tax.illinois.gov. Additional assistance is also being offered through the IRS-sponsored Ladder Up Virtual Tax Assistance Program, which also provides free basic tax return preparation for low-to-moderate income and elderly taxpayers.
“I want to thank the Illinois Department of Revenue, Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), and AARP Tax-Aide programs for providing this much needed service to our older adults across the state,” said Paula Basta, Director of Illinois Department on Aging. “I’m encouraged by the innovative approaches to service delivery to protect our most vulnerable, and I encourage everyone to spread the word to those that need assistance with filing their 2020 income taxes.”
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program provides free tax assistance to taxpayers over the age of 50 or who have low-to-moderate income. Availability is determined at the local or community level, by appointment only (walk-in service is unavailable this year).
Decisions on whether a site offers an all-virtual, light contact or in-person approach will be based on safety and health data from Johns Hopkins about COVID-19 levels in a community. The site locator will be regularly updated, and short notice changes are possible. AARP membership is not required to receive assistance. Various taxpayer assistance services may be provided to each site, including traditional in-person, low-contact, and contact-free services. Taxpayers should contact the tax assistance provider closest to them to ask how to access these volunteer services.
Get the latest news and updates from the Illinois Department of Revenue by following the department on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and YouTube.
Get the latest news and updates from the Illinois Department on Aging by following the department on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or by calling the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 (hearing impaired call 888-206-1327) or by email aging.ilsenior@illinois.gov.