Welcome to AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, the free tax preparation program provided by AARP Foundation volunteers.  AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation program in the United States. 

In Minnesota, we offer in-person and virtual tax preparation help to anyone for both federal and Minnesota State taxes as well as for Property Tax refunds for renters and homeowners.  Our services are free of charge, focusing on taxpayers who are 50 or older with low to middle income or to those who cannot afford paid tax preparation.  

MN Tax-Aide Locations

Information for In-Person or Low Contact Appointments:
Tax-Aide service sites are open from early-February through mid-April.  In 2024, there will be approximately 76 sites located throughout Minnesota.  To find a location near you, you can either use the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Locator  or you can use the Minnesota Interactive Map to find the site that is most convenient for you.  The sites shown on the linked interactive map will show the address of the location, the point of contact (POC) phone number to call to inquire about appointment openings, and the days of the week that the site will be open.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Locator      or       Minnesota Interactive Map for Tax-Aide Locations
The dates and times that each site is open varies by site.  Most service sites require advance appointments; typically walk-in service will not be available.  Depending upon the specific site, there are generally two types of site-base tax return preparation services available:

In-Person: In Tax-Aide’s traditional in-person service, taxes are prepared and filed by IRS-certified tax counselors.
Low-Contact: Taxpayers interact with IRS-certified Tax-Aide volunteers in one or two short, in-person meetings to exchange documents; taxes are prepared and filed by IRS-certified tax counselors

Please keep in mind that most sites do not begin taking appointments until after January 15th.  In general the sites will operate from February 5th to April 15th timeframe.
Information for Assistance in Preparing Your Own Tax Return:
If you are a Taxpayer who would like to prepare your own tax returns using free tax software and would like some assistance and/or guidance in doing so, we have an online service available to help you prepare your own tax returns.  You will interact with a Tax-Aide IRS-certified tax counselor online or by phone and exchange documents electronically.  To find out more about this service, go to Prepare My Own Taxes Online .
Other Providers of Free Tax Preparation Services:
In addition to the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide sites, there are a number of other locations in Minnesota that offer free tax preparation services.  You can use the Minnesota Department of Revenue search tool at https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/free-tax-preparation-sites to look for a site near you.

Making and Updating an Appointment

Use the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Locator  to find a location that is convenient for you.

Once you find a site using the AARP Tax-Aide Locator, call the phone number that is associated with the site to make an appointment.  Keep in mind that many of the appointment phone lines are staffed by volunteers working limited hours, so you may need to leave a voice mail message.

​Once you have a confirmed appointment, if you find that you need to cancel it or change it, please call the site back and let them know ASAP.  If you need to change it, they will help find another suitable time. If you need to cancel it, the time slot can be re-opened for another person.

Preparing for Your Appointment

You — the taxpayer — are responsible for the accuracy of your return, please refer to the Taxpayer Responsibilities document listed in the section below.  You must provide our volunteers with complete information and all your tax forms and data.  Also, please refer to the Documents To Bring Checklist listed in the section below to help you prepare for your appointment.

Please be aware that volunteer tax preparers have limitations, based on the complexity of the return; see the Tax-Aide Scope Limitations document for tax-related matters that we cannot help with.  If a tax return requires a form or knowledge outside the scope of our program, our training, or our IRS certification, we cannot file it.  Also, in certain situations, volunteers may be unable to provide assistance; these taxpayers usually have:

Rental income, or
A business with depreciable property, or
A business showing a loss for the year, or
A business with employees. 

​We file returns electronically, we do not file paper returns except under very special circumstances.  AND, we do not provide legal or financial advice.