Welcome to Tax-Aide Southbay
AARP Tax-Aide Southbay provides federal and state income tax preparation services to South Bay residents. The program is tailored for people 50 and older and those who have low to moderate incomes, but Tax-Aide services are available to anyone free of charge.
This year, we will be meeting with taxpayers, in person, at sites in El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, and Torrance, from February 1 through April 18. See the Our Sites page for the day(s) of the week and the hours that each site will operate.
This year, we will be meeting with taxpayers, in person, at sites in El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, and Torrance, from February 1 through April 18. See the Our Sites page for the day(s) of the week and the hours that each site will operate.
Return Preparation
At all sites, your tax return preparation will be completed in a single session. When you come to a site, a counselor will conduct an interview with you, then prepare your return while you wait. (You may be asked to wait in an area separate from where the return is being prepared.) After the return is prepared, another counselor will conduct a quality review, during which the return will be reviewed with you; you will be able to have your questions answered; you will sign the necessary documents (Form 8879) authorizing us to file your return; and you will receive a printed copy of the return. The return will be filed electronically at the end of the day.
Appointments
It is NOT NECESSARY to make an appointment to have your return prepared. The El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and Torrance sites will prepare your return the day you walk in. You MAY MAKE AN APPOINTMENT only at the Rancho Palos Verdes site, which is open on Fridays. At that site, appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are also welcome. If the site is not able to accommodate you on the day that you come in, you will be guaranteed an appointment on a future day that the site is open.
Click here to make a Friday appointment at the Rancho Palos Verdes site.
If you find that you cannot keep your scheduled appointment, please cancel or reschedule it as far in advance as possible, in order to make it available to other taxpayers. DON'T BE A NO SHOW!!
Detailed instructions for appointment functions (Rancho Palos Verdes only) are available by clicking the links below:
Click here to make a Friday appointment at the Rancho Palos Verdes site.
If you find that you cannot keep your scheduled appointment, please cancel or reschedule it as far in advance as possible, in order to make it available to other taxpayers. DON'T BE A NO SHOW!!
Detailed instructions for appointment functions (Rancho Palos Verdes only) are available by clicking the links below:
Documents to Bring to Your Tax Return Preparation Session
It is imperative that you bring all of your tax documents to your tax return preparation session. These include:
Click here to access a detailed checklist of documents that you should bring to your tax preparation session.
As you assemble your documents, compare them to this list to verify that you have all that were sent to you.
Prior to having your return prepared, you will be asked to complete the Intake/Interview form, Form 13416C, which provides the necessary information to assure an accurate return. You can save time by completing this form in advance and bringing with you. The form can be accessed by clicking here. It is a fillable PDF form, so it can be completed electronically and printed, or printed and completed by hand.
If you think you will itemize deductions, or qualify for education credits, worksheets are available to capture the necessary information so that your return can be prepared more quickly and accurately. The worksheets are accessible from the following links:
- Photo ID for taxpayer (and spouse if filing jointly)
- Social security cards for all persons included on the return (taxpayer, spouse, and dependents)
- All documents showing income received in 2022
- Your previous year's tax return
- Bank account information (routing number and account number) if you want direct deposit/debit of your refund/payment
Click here to access a detailed checklist of documents that you should bring to your tax preparation session.
As you assemble your documents, compare them to this list to verify that you have all that were sent to you.
Prior to having your return prepared, you will be asked to complete the Intake/Interview form, Form 13416C, which provides the necessary information to assure an accurate return. You can save time by completing this form in advance and bringing with you. The form can be accessed by clicking here. It is a fillable PDF form, so it can be completed electronically and printed, or printed and completed by hand.
If you think you will itemize deductions, or qualify for education credits, worksheets are available to capture the necessary information so that your return can be prepared more quickly and accurately. The worksheets are accessible from the following links:
Coronavirus Safety Precautions
Although the threat presented by the coronavirus has subsided when compared to the previous two years, we still wish to remain cautious of its potential harm. We are committed to keeping both our taxpayer clients and volunteer staff as safe as possible, while still providing quality tax preparation services. We are adhering to guidelines defined by AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, that requires that all Tax-Aide volunteers be vaccinated. We are also adhering to guidelines imposed by the organizations who provide space at our local sites. We appreciate your cooperation in following appropriate health and safety protocols.
- If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, or you know you have been exposed, please DO NOT COME to our site
- PLEASE WEAR A FACE COVERING!
- Please maintain effective "social distancing" measures when visiting a site
- Appropriate barriers and/or distancing between clients and counselors will be observed. Please respect them
- Cleaning and hygiene practices will be followed. Please do your part, also
Making Things Easier
The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the traditional South Bay Tax-Aide program the last 3 years. We feel we have made great progress in returning to our normal mode of operations this year. However, there are some new and different elements and procedures, and it will require the best efforts of volunteers, taxpayers, and our host sites staff to have a successful tax preparation season. We must all exercise patience, cooperation, and tolerance. Below are some insights, reminders, and tips that should make for a more efficient, more pleasant tax preparation process for all participants.
- Be sure to bring all necessary identification and tax documents with you. Click here to access a checklist of documents to bring. Coming to the site missing any forms will delay the preparation of your return
- You can save time by completing the Intake Interview form in advance and bringing it with you. The form can be accessed by clicking here. It is a fillable PDF form, so it can be completed electronically and printed, or printed and completed by hand
- Please remove your tax forms from their envelopes
- Please bring your prior year's tax return, if you have it. This helps us prepare a more accurate return
- If you itemize deductions, please total all costs by categories. This saves the preparer time. Click here for a worksheet for itemized deductions, and click here for a worksheet for educational credit expenses
- If you made an appointment to have your return prepared at our Rancho Palos Verdes site, please be on time