The library is hosting AARP Foundation Tax-Aide BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
We have a limited amount of appointments and you must sign up ahead of time.
Our appointments are on Mondays – there are no appointments on Monday, February 16, because the library is closed.
Here are the rules you need to know before you can have your taxes done by the AARP volunteer tax preparers:
NEW FOR THIS YEAR:
o If you are claiming the new deduction for “No Tax on Overtime” you must tell us
your overtime rate, for example, time-and-a-half or double-time. If more than one
overtime rate, you must be able to tell us what overtime amount is at what rate.
o If you are claiming the new deduction for “No Tax on Tips” the tips must be
included on your W-2 and/or 1099-K. Cash tips not so reported are not eligible
for this deduction.
o If you are claiming the new deduction for “No Tax on Car Loan Interest” we need
the VIN and the loan must have been made in 2025 for a car whose final assembly
was in the US. We can determine that from the VIN.
o If you received a New York State Inflation Rebate check, we will need to know
the amount.
o The limit on deducting state and local taxes (property, income, sales) on the
federal return has been increased from $10,000 to $40,000 ($20,000 for Married
Filing Separately). Note: there was never a limit on this on the NY return. It’s best
to just bring property tax receipts, and we will figure out if you can or can’t
itemize. If you received a STAR credit check, we will need to know the amount.
• If you have an appointment and do not show up or call to cancel, we will not do your
return later this year and/or the next year
• Be prepared to be at the site for up to two hours after your appointment time.
Unfortunately, sometimes the wait can be even longer.
• We can only do returns for full-year NY State residents, if a New York City resident,
must be NYC resident for the full year.
• We cannot do Yonkers returns (resident or non-resident) or forms.
• A government-issued photo ID, preferably a NYS Driver License or Non-Driver ID card,
must be presented for the person, and for a joint return also the spouse, filing a return.
This is not required for dependents.
o NYS may delay any refund due for a filer who has a NY Driver License or
Non-Driver ID and the license information is not entered on the return.
• Social security numbers must be verified for all persons on a return, i.e., one or both
filers, and any dependents, by presenting:
o A social security card, or
o Social security statement, if showing all 9 digits of the SSN, or
o Copy of a 2024 or 2023 return prepared by AARP Foundation Tax-Aide that was
e-filed and accepted by the IRS.
o We cannot accept the following to verify social security numbers:
W-2, 1099, etc.
Copy of a tax return that was not prepared by AARP Foundation Tax-Aide
• For Married Filing Separately the filer should provide the spouse’s social security
number and should know whether the spouse has already filed and if so, whether the
spouse claimed the standard or itemized deduction. If this information is not available,
we will still file the return, but the IRS might later demand additional tax, if the
ex-spouse itemized deductions and you did not.
January 4, 2026 Page 2
• If a 1099-B (sale of stock or mutual fund) or substitute statement is presented, and the
date of purchase and basis of an item is not on the form or statement, the filer must
provide this information, typically from contacting the broker. We cannot research this. If
you cannot determine the basis, we are required to report it as zero, making the entire
proceeds taxable as a capital gain.
• All tax documents (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) should be removed from envelopes, and neatly
presented so that they can be easily examined by the tax preparer. If itemized deductions
are to be taken, the amounts of medical, prescription drug, supplemental medical
insurance premiums, and dental bills should be determined by the taxpayer and neatly
presented on a sheet of paper along with any charitable contributions. The tax preparer
cannot rummage through a year’s worth of bills or cancelled checks to come up with
these figures.
• Except for the non-appearing spouse and Power of Attorney exceptions (below), we will
only e-file returns, we will not prepare paper returns for mailing by the filer(s).
• We reserve the right to refuse to prepare any return which is not in compliance with these
rules, is beyond our overall training, beyond the knowledge or experience of the preparer,
overly complex, or when not enough information has been provided to prepare a
complete and accurate return.
• The person filing the return, and for a joint return also the spouse, must sign in the
presence of the preparer. There are some rare exceptions:
o Exception 1: We can prepare a joint return for a spouse who cannot appear due to
infirmary, illness, etc. We will require a doctor’s note to confirm this. We will
need to see government-issued photo IDs for both filers (see above about NY
Driver Licenses and Non-Driver IDs), and verify both filers’ social security
numbers. If either return shows a refund or tax due, we will not e-file the return,
instead we will provide paper copies of federal and NY returns for the filers to
mail to the IRS and NYS Department of Taxation & Finance.
o Exception 2: We can accept a notarized Power of Attorney from a representative
appearing for a person who cannot appear.
We will need to see the Power of Attorney. The representative must show
the preparer where in the Power of Attorney it authorizes the
representative to file a tax return.
We will need to see government-issued photo IDs for both filer and
representative, and verify filer’s social security number.
For the federal return, the representative must fill in and sign IRS Form
2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, and show it to
the preparer. Our volunteers are not permitted to complete Form 2848 on
behalf of taxpayers.
For the NY return, the representative must fill in and sign NY Form POA1, Power of Attorney, and show it to the preparer. Our volunteers are not
permitted to complete Form POA-1 on behalf of taxpayers.
o For either of the above exceptions, if either (federal or NY) return shows a refund
or tax due, we will not e-file the return, instead we will provide paper copies of
federal and NY returns for the filers to mail to the IRS (with Form 2848 attached)
and NYS Department of Taxation & Finance (with Form POA-1
A PDF downloadable copy of these rules is available HERE: Rules for Taxpayers to Follow TY 2025