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BEMIDJI — AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking for compassionate and friendly people to join their volunteer team at the Bemidji Senior Center. There will be training and support to help volunteers learn new skills.

Volunteers come from a variety of industries and span from retirees to college students, a release said.

"Tax-Aide focuses on serving older adults and others with low to moderate income and helps them secure much-needed tax refunds," the release said. "Tax-Aide volunteers provide free tax preparation and filing services to taxpayers, as well as providing tech support, helping to organize, recruiting volunteers and more."

All levels and types of experience are welcome. Volunteers are trained and IRS certified, with classes generally held in December or January for the upcoming tax filing season. The amount of training required depends on the position.

Volunteers are asked to provide approximately five hours of service per week during the tax season from February through April.

Dating back to 1968, Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program.

According to the release, for the 2023 tax season, 27,771 volunteers at 3,600 national sites helped 1,680,084 taxpayers receive $1,280,817,176 in refunds. Locally, 17 volunteers helped more than 750 people get refunds of $805,000.

"Tax-Aide volunteers make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults right in their own communities, by helping build their financial resilience," said Tax-Aid District Coordinator Susan Lind. "Even modest refunds can benefit the lives of older adults, especially those living with low incomes. Our Tax-Aide volunteers help make sure they don’t miss out on the credits and deductions they have earned and need."

Those interested in volunteering should contact Lind at (218) 751-0060 or email Taxes9632@gmail.com.

Supplies and equipment are provided and mileage reimbursement is available through the AARP Foundation. For more information and schedule details, visit