Yavapai News

Residents in the community have an opportunity to get help filing their taxes this year, because the AARP Tax-Aide program will come to the Camp Verde Community Library’s Founders Room between 4  and 7 p.m. every Tuesday through April 14 to provide no-cost tax prep and e-filing assistance for taxpayers, with the help of volunteers that are IRS-certified.

According to the Camp Verde Bugle, residents will need to bring:

• 2018 tax returns
• A social security card or taxpayer identification number for everyone who will be on the return
• Income documents
• Deduction documents
• Government-issued identification for each person on the return
• 1095-A forms if someone purchased insurance through the Exchange
• Banking information if you want to direct deposit any refunds or direct debit any payments.

The AARP Tax-Aide program is staffed by IRS-certified volunteers who are qualified to prepare basic tax returns within the state. But, the 60 Plus Association warns that volunteers who have left the Tax-Aide program recently have raised concerns about privacy concerns related to how individuals’ data is handled and used.

According to the 60 Plus Association, former AARP Tax-Aide volunteers said new policies could require participants to hand over data to the AARP without any protection over how it is used or who uses the information after disclosure. 

“There are some very serious red flags regarding the AARP’s tax program, and America’s seniors should be extremely cautious when considering whether or not to participate,” said American Association of Senior Citizens Founder and Chairman James Martin. “Volunteers within the program itself have raised significant data and privacy concerns and seniors should be aware of these issues as they make decisions regarding their tax filings.”