Happy New Year 2026! Along with the new year, many people make New Year Resolutions. People often resolve to eat better or exercise more; we may or may not stick with these resolutions for very long. However, we can all make a resolution to be better prepared for tax season; a yearly task that we all must do, but few enjoy. 

Organizing our information and completing our tax forms ourselves can be a daunting task. This year, there are changes in how tips and over-time can be taxed, and there is an additional tax deduction for qualifying tax payers over the age of 65. It can be hard to keep track of these changes and how they might impact our individual tax returns.  

However, here’s the good news. The AARP Foundation offers free Tax-Aide preparation clinics in 47 locations in Maine. Last year 240 Tax-Aide volunteers filed 13,671 federal returns helping Maine taxpayers receive $10.4 million in federal refunds. 

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is managed through the AARP Foundation and jointly sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service. This service provides quality tax assistance free of charge focusing on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate incomes. This program offers free, quality assistance to those who need help filling their taxes. The Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and ready to assist Mainers with both the standard short tax forms and the longer forms as needed. 

The online Tax- Aide Site Locator tool will help you find the Tax-Aide location nearest to you. This Locator Tool provides the locations, operating schedules and contact details for making tax preparation appointments. The web address is https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp-taxaide/locations/ and it opens up in mid-January. The phone number to call for Tax - Aide information is 1-888-227-7669.  

Tax-Aide appointments are available from Feb. 1 through April 15. Since appointment times can fill up quickly, it is a good idea to go ahead and make your appointment early in the tax season. Then you can get back to your New Year’s resolutions or just get outside to enjoy the beauty of the Maine winter.

Remember to check out the AARP Maine web page to find an AARP coffee gathering or other events taking place near you. Happy holidays to all!    

Joyce Bucciantini is a retired middle school educator. She currently coordinates Delta Kappa Gamma’s Read to Me program, is a tutor with Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin, and is an active AARP Maine volunteer. She enjoys her gardens, being outdoors and traveling.