AARP Free Tax Preparation Available

AARP Foundation is providing tax assistance and preparation through its Tax-Aide program — and it’s completely free.

Taxpayers interact with IRS-certified Tax-Aide volunteers in two short, in-person meetings to exchange documents. You schedule your first appointment on a Monday to fill out paperwork and give your documents to a Tax-Aide volunteer and then leave the site. If you wish, you may bring copies of your documents instead of originals. Your tax return will be prepared. Documents are kept in a secure location during this time. A second appointment will be scheduled for the following Tuesday.
At this appointment, your completed tax return will be explained and documents returned.

Plan to arrive no more than 5 minutes before your appointment time. If you are ill, please call the STEP Center to cancel the appointment and the appointment will be rescheduled. If married filing jointly, both husband and wife must be present to have their return prepared.

Help is available starting Monday, February 10, and ending Monday, April 7, at The STEP Clinton County Community Center located at 124 East Walnut Street, Lock Haven, PA. Appointments are required. Starting Monday, January 27, you may call 570-858-5800 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to schedule an appointment. Do not call earlier as scheduling will not be available.

AARP Tax-Aide provides free tax preparation help to people with low to moderate incomes–giving preference to people over age 50. The program is offered in conjunction with the IRS and AARP membership is not required.
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Bring the following documents:
Photo ID
SSA-1099 form if you were paid Social Security
Birth dates, photo ID and Social Security numbers for all taxpayers and all taxpayer’s dependents. (You can use either a Social Security Card or Benefit Statement Form SSA-1099)
RRB-1099-R US Railroad Retirement Board forms
A check with your name printed on it
Form 1095A if you purchased health insurance through the Marketplace (Exchange)
All wage and earning statements (for example, Form W-2 or Form W-2G)
All 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B showing interest and/or dividends and documentation showing original purchase price of assets sold
All pension and retirement statements (Form 1099-R)
1099-MISC, 1099-K, 1099-NEC or other 1099 forms.
A copy of last year’s federal and state returns
Property tax receipts or signed rental certificate for the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program
Any other documents showing income not reported on the above documents

You May Be Eligible for the Pennsylvania Property Tax Rent Rebate
Starting this year the income guidelines for the Pennsylvania Property Tax Rent Rebate Program have increased which may make you eligible for the rebate. Property owners and renters over 65, widows/widowers age 50 and older, or disabled persons 18 and older may qualify if your income is up to $45,000. Only half of Social Security and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 counts toward this income amount. Please bring a copy of all your property taxes (School, Municipal, County) marked “Paid” if you think you might qualify. You must have a rent certificate filled out by your landlord if you are a renter.

If you are required to file federal or state taxes for 2024, you are still eligible for the rebate. Property Tax/Rent Rebate can also be completed by Pa State Representative Stephanie Borowicz and the staff at the Step office.