Tax season begins Jan. 26 and free help is available

GAF

Tax filing season begins Jan. 26 and ends April 15. Residents can get free help filing their taxes through the AARP Tax-Aide Program sponsored by the Golden Age Foundation.

IRS-certified volunteers will help people file taxes from Feb. 2-April 8, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m.-noon in the Clubhouse 3 Learning Center. Appointments are required. To make an appointment, call 562-596-1987 and leave a message including your name and phone number.

An Intake/Interview Sheet (Form 13614-C) must be completed for each return that is prepared. The form is available in the LW Library and should be completed in advance of the appointment.

Organized tax records make preparing a complete and accurate tax return easier.

To be assisted by the volunteers, residents must be a full-year California resident and qualify to file as Single or Married Filing Jointly.

The following records should be brought to the appointment, if applicable:

• Social Security card or Form 1099-SSA for everyone on the return

• Government Issued ID or Leisure World ID for everyone on the return

• Copy of your 2024 Federal and State tax returns

• Forms W-2

• Forms 1099 for interest, dividends, pensions, social security benefits and IRA distributions

• Forms 1099-B for the Cost of stocks, bonds and mutual funds sold in 2025

• Verification of the sale of a California residence

• Form 1095-A if you purchased medical insurance through Covered California

• For itemized deductions, prepare and total a list of medical expenses, charitable contributions, taxes, mortgage interest and other deductions (the total for CA state returns should exceed $5,706 if Single or $11,412 if Married Filing Joint). Bring the list along with the organized receipts The AARP program cannot prepare returns with rental property, a net loss from self-employment, or a sale of anything other than a California home, stocks, bonds or mutual funds.