Ease anxiety with free tax resources for seniors
Once February rolls around, a yearly task most of us have to deal with and may dread regardless of age begins creeping up in our minds: the preparation and filing of personal income taxes.
If you fall in the active aging category, your level of anxiety around this topic is likely high. It might be comforting to know that you’re not alone.
“As people age, anxiety seems to get worse — taxes are a big worry for older people, and it’s a lot of relief to be done,” said Joann McCracken, development director at the Phoenixville Area Senior Center in Chester County.
She has witnessed the toll tax preparation takes on her own family members.
“I’ve noticed with my parents and in-laws, there is real angst about doing taxes,” she said.
Free way to file taxes
The Phoenixville Area Senior Center offers a free way to help contend with the time and expertise needed to file your taxes if you’re age 50 and up and fall below the AARP Foundation’s income limits.
According to the foundation’s website, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides free tax preparation and filing services to anyone, with a focus on taxpayers over 50 or with low to moderate income.
In December of last year, the center began taking appointments that will begin today and go through April 11. They create awareness of the helpful service through advertising it in their newsletter, on Facebook and on their website.
“We have at least four preparers working here at a time from Monday through Thursday,” McCracken said. “We have a steady stream of people.”
The AARP professional tax preparers offer a level of expertise that participants at the center appreciate. If your taxes are simple, an appointment takes about an hour to prepare them.
“People are really grateful they have somewhere to do it where they feel safe and they can trust that it’s done right,” McCracken said.
Hard to read small print
She said that it’s often hard to get appointments at accounting service places, among other issues people encounter when it comes to the process of filling out tax forms.
“When your eyesight starts to go, it’s hard to read the small print on the forms and difficult to call the 1-800 number and get answers,” she said.
McCracken finds that for most seniors, computerized tax programs aren’t appealing.
“If you’re a certain age, computers are frightening to you,” she said. “The state provides a free way and it’s still confusing, and you don’t want to type your Social Security numbers into the computer.”
This is one of the reasons their in-person service is popular. This year, they are seeing an influx of seniors seeking appointments from a neighboring senior center in Montgomery County.
“Tax prep demand is high every year, and this year is no different,” said Brian Parkes, executive director of the TriCounty Active Adult Center in Pottstown. “Unfortunately, it’s also getting harder to recruit volunteer tax preparers, so we have fewer appointments available.”
As a result, all of their appointments filled up within a few weeks.
“We have been referring people to other centers, including Phoenixville Senior Center,” Parkes said.
Not too late
If you’re interested in making an appointment, it’s not too late.
“You call for an appointment and leave your name and anybody filing with you, along with your phone number and should say that you are making a tax appointment request,” McCracken said.
Calls are returned by their screener in the order in which they come in, and the 15-minute call includes telling people what they will need to bring with them to their appointment.
The average age of participants at the center is 72, and they have people who come up to age 102. Residents of Chester and Montgomery counties who are age 55 and older can participate in any of the center’s programs.
“You can come here every day and it won’t cost you a cent,” McCracken said. “You can do puzzles, card games, sew with a sewing group, take an art class — and get your taxes done. Keeping you socialized keeps you living.”
More information
About Phoenixville Area Senior Center
An active, adult, recreational center serving Chester and Montgomery Counties, the Phoenixville Area Senior Center provides programs, activities and information geared toward residents 55 and older within their communities. Their service area includes Phoenixville, Spring City, Royersford, Trappe and Collegeville boroughs and the townships of Charlestown, East Whiteland, Schuylkill, East and West Pikeland, East and West Vincent, Limerick and Upper and Lower Providence, including Oaks and Mont Clare.
For an appointment: To make a tax prep appointment at the Phoenixville Area Senior Center, 153 Church St., Phoenixville, call: 610-935-1515, extension 24.
Website: www.phoenixvilleseniorcenter.org
Source: Phoenixville Area Senior Center
Upcoming event
In celebration of being founded 45 years ago, the Phoenixville Area Senior Center will hold an open house on April 18 from 5 to 7 p,m. It will be a celebration with food, music and an opportunity to experience some of the programming the center offers.
About AARP Tax Professionals
Since 1968, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has provided free tax help to over 78 million taxpayers, with a focus on older adults with low to moderate income. Tax-Aide volunteers are located nationwide and are trained and IRS-certified every year to make sure they know about and understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code.
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