Tax Help for Seniors: Where To Get Help

How Tax Assistance Can Help Seniors

With fluctuating tax laws and complicated rules, many people dread tax season. For senior citizens managing healthcare costs, retirement benefits, and pensions, tax season can be even more overwhelming.

Fortunately, senior taxpayers can access numerous resources. A simple online search for “tax help for seniors near me” will show you community-based resources, nationwide tax advice, and income tax filing assistance programs from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the AARP, and more.

Whether you need someone to file your taxes or you just need a little guidance, these programs can help. Continue reading to discover more about the resources and strategies available to seniors. 

Tax Benefits and Deductions for Seniors

As a senior citizen, you can claim tax benefits through exemptions, credits, and deductions. Once you turn 65, you’ll qualify for a higher standard deduction of $17,750 for single filers or $31,500 for married couples filing jointly. If you’re in the 22% tax bracket, this could reduce your tax bill by $440 per year.

Starting in 2025, qualifying seniors 65 and older can claim up to $6,000 in additional deductions. This deduction is set to last through tax year 2028.

Retirement Income

Even after retiring, you can contribute to your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) if you have earned income during the year. This may also provide tax deductions if you contribute to your pre-tax Traditional IRA.

If your spouse is still working, they can contribute up to $8,000 to a Traditional or Roth IRA in your name for tax year 2025—even if you’re not working—through a spousal IRA contribution.

This means that if your spouse has enough earned income, they can contribute to their own IRA and make a spousal contribution to your account, for a combined limit of $16,000 in 2025.

However, total IRA contributions cannot exceed the set contribution limits or your combined earned income for the tax year, whichever is lower.

Medical Expenses 

The IRS also allows you to deduct unreimbursed medical expenses related to vision care, dental care, surgical procedures, and any other health-related treatment. This means you can deduct common expenses related to hearing aids, dentures, contacts, prescription medications, and visits to psychiatrists or other medical specialists, among many others

To deduct these expenses, they must be itemized, and you’ll only be able to deduct the part of the expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.

Property Taxes

Some states may offer additional tax relief for seniors through property tax exemptions up to a certain threshold. It’s always best to check with your local property tax authority for more information specific to your area. States such as Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Washington, and Texas currently offer property tax exemptions.

New Jersey, which has the highest property taxes in the country, has also recently announced a tax break for seniors that will take effect in 2026. Eligible applicants may be able to save up to $6,500 on property taxes.

4 Tips To Help You File Your Tax Returns

Take advantage of the free services for seniors offered by federal and state governments and non-profit organizations. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help you file your tax returns for free.

1. Find a Local Tax Service Specializing in Senior Help

Since you’ll be filing your tax returns in person in most cases, it’s important to find a qualified, reputable local tax assistance provider near you. Ideally, you want to find a service that caters specifically to seniors and offers programs that provide discounted or free tax filing.

An easy way to find this is by searching “tax help for seniors near me” on search engines. Be sure to read reviews from past clients. Visit their website or call to see if they offer special programs or services for seniors. Ensure that they’re at a convenient location so you can easily stop by to visit their office.

2. Understand Tax Laws

The U.S. Federal Tax Code is estimated to be nearly 7,000 pages long, containing over one million words. Property tax exemptions, tax credits, Social Security rules, and other nuances can make it difficult for any taxpayer to navigate. 

You don't have to understand every tax rule, but take note of important deadlines, potential penalties, and required documentation to make tax time stress-free. Seniors can take advantage of free or low-cost tax preparation assistance to make the process easier and more affordable.

3. Get Professional Help

For seniors, it’s important to get professional help when filing taxes to ensure you’re not missing out on any tax benefits. Your city or town may have special assistance programs for filing federal income taxes and state returns. A professional can help you determine if you qualify for benefits like the earned income tax credit (EITC) and child tax credit.

Community-run organizations throughout the U.S. assist taxpayers with personal finance matters, such as tax filing. Working with a reliable and trustworthy professional can help you take advantage of available tax breaks and make tax filing as stress-free as possible.

4. Get Free Help With Your Taxes

While you’ll be able to find many local programs when you search “tax help for seniors near me,” there are also several nationwide programs available that you can take advantage of.

Here are a few free tax prep resources relevant to senior citizens:

• The AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program provides free tax assistance to senior taxpayers with low to moderate income.
• The IRS offers Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) to those 60 or older through TCE volunteers.
• Another program offered by the IRS is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free tax return preparation services to qualified individuals.

Find Tax Help

Non-profit organizations, state agencies, and the federal government offer assistance to seniors who require tax help. Use the IRS’s TCE site/VITA site locator to find tax help near you. You’ll also be able to find local help through the Area Agencies on Aging, which connects seniors and their caregivers to local resources and organizations.

Your state’s bar association can also provide pro bono legal counsel if you need legal help related to tax problems. Many local tax preparation associations and CPAs also offer free tax help to older adults who are dealing with back taxes or IRS audits.  

Debt expert and founder and managing director of Reichert Asset Management LLC, Brad Reichert, explains that seniors new to the U.S. who must file for taxes should consider finding assistance.

“It’s important to seek tax-related help from a qualified, reputable service provider who is multilingual and can explain these complex rules in a potential U.S. tax filer’s first language to avoid any misunderstandings or misinterpretations on a tax return,” Reichert explains.

For the most up-to-date tax rates, deductions, and credits, visit the IRS official website.

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