AARP Tax Aide

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS

For the past several years, the Petoskey District Library has proudly hosted IRS-certified volunteers with the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program to provide free tax preparation help to senior citizens.

Tax assistance at the Library is by appointment only! To make an appointment, call 231.758.3140 beginning January 6, 2026. When prompted after the voicemail message, please speak clearly and say your full name slowly as well as the best phone number to reach you. Tax volunteers do NOT work every day, but will call you back as soon as possible to discuss your situation and work out an appointment time for you. Appointments will be scheduled on Tuesdays (10:00am-4:00pm) and Fridays (10:00am-3:00pm) from February 10 through April 10. (Please do not call the Library's main line or Library staff as they do not have any information about Tax-Aide appointments.)

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained to help you file a variety of income tax forms and schedules. In certain situations, however, our volunteers may be unable to provide assistance. The Volunteer Protection Act requires that volunteers stay within the scope of tax law and policies set by the IRS and the AARP Foundation.

Here's a guide to what our Tax-Aide volunteers can and can't do.

  • Wages, interest, dividends, capital gains/losses, unemployment compensation, pensions and other retirement income, Social Security benefits, among other types of income.
  • Self-employment income, with limits.
  • Most income reported on Form 1099-NEC, Form 1099-K, or Form 1099-MISC.
  • Schedule K-1 that includes only interest, dividends, capital gains/losses or royalties.
  • IRA contributions — deductible or not.
  • Certain adjustments to gross income and itemized deductions, including non-cash contributions to charity that total no more than $5,000.
  • Qualified business income deduction, with limits.
  • Cancellation of non-business credit card debt.
  • Most credits, such as earned income credit, education, child/ dependent care, simplified method foreign tax credit, among others.
  • Repayment of first-time homebuyer credit.
  • Estimated tax payments.
  • Injured spouse allocation, depending on state.
  • Amendments to filed returns.
  • Tax returns for certain prior years.

  • Self-employment if there are employees, losses, expenses that exceed $35,000, depreciation, business use of home, 1099 filing requirements or other complicating factors.
  • Hobby income or other activities not for profit.
  • Complicated capital gains/losses, such as futures or options.
  • Schedule K-1 with other than permitted items.
  • Rental income, except land-only rentals or rentals of personal residence less than 15 days.
  • Royalty income with expenses if not from self-employment.
  • Tax on a child’s investment and other unearned income (kiddie tax).
  • Farm income or expenses.
  • Some income, deduction, or credit items that are not included in our training.
  • Alternative minimum tax, additional Medicare tax, or net investment income tax.
  • Foreign financial asset reporting requirements.
  • Any return where the answer to the digital asset (virtual currency) question on Form 1040 is "yes."

For more information about the AARP Foundation and its work, visit their website at aarpfoundation.org. Specific details about its tax assistance program can be found here.

Contact Us

Petoskey District Library
500 E Mitchell St
Petoskey MI 49770

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231-758-3100

Hours of Operation

Monday 10am-7pm

Tuesday 10am-7pm

Wednesday 10am-7pm

Thursday 10am-7pm

Friday 10am-6pm

Saturday 10am-5pm

Sunday 12pm-5pm