For more than two decades, the Estes Valley Library has hosted the AARP Tax-Aide program, offering free assistance to local residents filing their federal and state income tax returns.
The program, now in its 21st year in Estes Park, aims to simplify a process many taxpayers find daunting.
Estes Park resident Lori Hendrickson coordinates the annual clinic, which runs through Tuesday, April 14, the day before tax returns are due.
About 20 trained volunteers staff the clinic and prepare tax returns. The Internal Revenue Service requires a two-step process that can take between one and three hours, depending on the complexity of a taxpayer’s situation. One volunteer prepares the return, and a second reviews it for accuracy and completeness. After review, the return is printed for the taxpayer’s signature so it can be electronically filed, and participants receive printed copies for their records.
Tax-Aide volunteers receive annual training to keep up with the tax codes and must pass certification tests. Additionally, Tax-Aide volunteers must also follow strict standards of conduct and are prohibited from accepting payment for their services.
Hendrickson advises residents to schedule appointments only after receiving all necessary tax documents, including brokerage statements, which are often mailed in late February or early March.
After scheduling, taxpayers receive a reminder call and an email outlining the documents and information they need to bring. Intake forms are included in the message, and printed packets are also available at the library.
In some cases, volunteers can help people catch up on prior-year filings. Last year, the clinic assisted several individuals who had fallen behind but had the necessary documents to file multiple years of returns.
Most filings are done electronically, though some situations require a paper return.
Hendrickson also encourages residents to file a return every year, even if they do not owe taxes, because doing so can help prevent identity theft. Correcting tax identity theft can take significant time and resources and often isn’t discovered until a year or more after it occurs.
In some cases, fraudsters purchase Social Security numbers and use them to file fraudulent refund claims, such as for the earned income tax credit. Others simply submit returns using random Social Security numbers until one is accepted, said Hendrickson.
And there are some restrictions: the Tax-Aide program cannot prepare returns involving residential rental income, solar energy credits, electric or hybrid vehicle credits, estate or trust filings, businesses with employees or losses, or out-of-state returns. Returns involving sold or bartered virtual currency, such as Bitcoin, also cannot be prepared through the program.
Residents can schedule an appointment through April 14, 2026, by calling 970-586-8116, visiting the library’s downtown location, or signing up online.
Hendrickson encourages residents not to wait until the last minute to make an appointment. Although the clinic will operate through April 14, she says waiting until the final days can create unnecessary stress for taxpayers and volunteers alike.
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