Donna Miller, an Amissville resident, was taken aback. A tax preparer had estimated the cost of
doing her return at $500 or more. When Miller protested that it was a simple return and her
income was only from Social Security and her retirement plan, the estimate dropped to $180.
She paid it reluctantly.
For her 2022 return, Miller did not have to pay that $180—or any amount--because she learned
about free tax filing offered by the AARP Foundation in Front Royal. She had used a similar site
in Manassas four years previously but had been unable to find a local option since moving to
Rappahannock. In a few weeks, she won’t even have to travel to Front Royal to file her return at
no charge.
Like Miller, many Rappahannock residents—and residents of neighboring counties—will be able
to have their returns prepared at no cost right here. RappCE is hosting an AARP Foundation free
filing site, RappTaxFree, from February through the end of the filing season in April. RappCE is
providing the facility and internet connection. AARP Foundation is providing computers, a
secure router, voice amail, and training to supplement that provided by the IRS. The PATH
Foundation is supporting the effort with funding for supplies, outreach, a website for
information and registration, and miscellaneous expenses.
A dozen residents have come forward to volunteer their time over the 10-week filing season. All
volunteers are unpaid. Some will be greeting tax payers; others will be checking documents or
administering surveys. All, regardless of their role with RappTaxFree, must take IRS training and
pass certification on ethics and confidentiality. All volunteers sign binding agreements with the
IRS with respect to confidentiality. Those volunteer tax counselors who will be preparing
returns go through additional, intensive training to achieve certification in tax law at an
advanced level. Training began before the holidays and continues through January.
The lengthy and careful preparations ensure that tax payers will have the same kind of great
experience that Miller had.
Front Royal responded to her request in a day, and she had her appointment in less than a
week. Filing went very smoothly, in part because the site made it clear what documents she
should bring and because of the quality of the training. RappTaxFree operations will
adhere to the same high standards.
Miller especially appreciated the second review. “It gave me confidence,” she said.
Every return prepared has a second review by an experienced volunteer. For RappTaxFree, this
is Jeremy Ross, who is also the lead for RappTaxFree’s weekly, local in-person training
supported by AARP. The second review is one reason AARP sites have an accuracy rate higher
than paid preparers.
Accuracy includes making sure tax payers get all the credits and refunds they could. Some
individuals don’t file because their income is too low to require a return: for example, less than
$13,850 for a single person under 65. Individuals who have only Social Security but who provide
most of the support for a grandchild or other direct relative might benefit. A third group would
be those who work but earn so little that they are eligible for public benefits. With Earned
Income Credit, they might receive a refund that can range from a few hundred to thousands of
dollars, depending on the size of the household and other factors.
RappTaxFree is spreading the word: File, even if you are not sure. Partners who are helping with
outreach include the Benevolent Fund, Rapp@Home, CCLC, Food Pantry, Rappahannock County
Public Schools, and the Department of Social Services. Lillian Aylor is heading up a special effort
to get information to members of more than 30 Rappahannock churches with personal letters
to their pastors.
Miller did not receive a refund last year. “I came out even Steven,” she said, “but I had peace of
mind, and that’s important.”
“I was very happy with the service, start to finish,” she said. RappTaxFree volunteers aim to do
the same.
The Details
What: Free tax preparation and filing by appointment
When: Appointments available alternate Thursdays and Saturdays from February 1 through
April 15
Register: Call the RappTaxFree voice mail: 540-227-0493.
Contact: Anne Yeoman, RappTaxFree site coordinator, yeomancontext@verizon.net
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