By Matildah Furusa
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is preparing for the 2026 tax season and is looking for volunteers to provide vital services to the public. Volunteers come from a variety of industries and range from college students to retirees. All levels and types of experience are welcome. Tax-Aide provides all training and support to ensure success.
Volunteers fill a variety of roles, including counselors who work with taxpayers directly by filling out tax returns; client facilitators who welcome taxpayers, help organize their paperwork, and manage the overall flow of service; technology coordinators who manage computer equipment, ensure taxpayer data is secure, and provide technical assistance to volunteers; and leadership and administrative volunteers who make sure program operations run smoothly, manage volunteers, and maintain quality control.
Tax-Aide provides tax preparation free of charge. Neither volunteers nor taxpayers need to be members of AARP, and there is no sales pitch for other services.
During the 2025 tax season in Jacksonville, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers completed 3,782 returns with refunds of more than $3 million. This would not be possible without volunteers, who make an indelible mark on the taxpayers they work with and the communities where they live.
Three sites will be open this year in Mandarin: South Mandarin Branch Library (12125 San Jose Blvd.), Mandarin Branch Library (3330 Kori Road), and San Jose Baptist Church (6140 San Jose Blvd.). There are nine additional sites across Jacksonville from the beaches to Regency Square to Edgewood.
To volunteer, visit https://aarpfoundation.org/taxaidevolunteer to complete an interest form, call (888) 227-7669 or email dianevtax12@gmail.com.
To learn more about having AARP Foundation Tax-Aide complete your taxes, visit https://taxaide.aarpfoundation.org.
