Scope of Service

Our services are limited in scope to volunteer training available from the IRS and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide.  A national scope poster will be displayed at every site showing things we cannot do as well as things we should generally be able to do.  However, individual sites may have discretion to further limit the scope of things they can do due to volunteer staffing and demand for services.  Any additional scope limitations will be noted on the Scope Poster at that particular site.

National Scope Poster

In addition to the items shown on the National Scope Poster, the following items are OUT OF SCOPE for Hawaii Tax-Aide sites this year due to late guidance from the IRS and tax software limitations:

• Self-employment if claiming the deduction for qualified tips, overtime, car loan interest, or the enhanced senior deduction (i.e., 65 or older)
• Section 199A dividends if TP is claiming the deduction for qualified tips, overtime, car loan interest, or the enhanced senior deduction (i.e., 65 or older) 
• TPs with SSNs marked “Not Valid for Employment” if TP is age 65 or older OR claiming dependent children 

Tax Prep Options

Hawaii Tax-Aide sites may offer services using either the in-person or same-day drop-off methods or a combination of both.

In-person sites will prepare your return in your presence (face to face). You will leave with a completed tax return that will be e-filed within 24  hours of completion.

Same-day drop-off sites will prepare your return while you wait outside of the tax preparation room — perhaps in your car, perhaps in a separate room.  You will leave with a completed tax return that will be e-filed within 24  hours of completion.

Sites may offer walk-in service (first-come, first-served) or may require that you call ahead for an appointment.  Check our site schedule for information. 

What We Need From You

All taxpayers must complete the Intake and Interview sheet (Form 13614-C) and the Hawaii Supplemental Intake Sheet.  These sheets are available at the site, but you can look at the forms posted below for a preview of the information required.  If you would like, you can download, print, and fill out the sheets in advance of your visit, but note that service on a specific day is not guaranteed at walk-in sites simply because you have already completed the forms.  You must also bring all tax-related forms you received for the tax year, such as Forms W-2, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B, 1098, 1098-T, 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC, 1099-K, W-2G, 1099-G, Schedule K-1, 1095-A, etc.  Please bring PAPER COPIES of these forms.  A document checklist is provided below describing the identification and tax reporting forms you may need to provide, depending on your specific circumstances.

NOTE:  Depending on your income, expenses, and credits to be claimed on your return, additional worksheets may be needed.  These will be provided at the site.  In particular, if you want to claim the new deductions for qualified tips, qualified overtime, and new passenger vehicle loan interest, you will need to complete specific worksheets (links provided below).  The information required to complete these worksheets must be gathered by you in advance of your visit to ensure a smooth return preparation process, so we recommend that you download and fill out these worksheets ahead of time.

TY 2025 Tax-Aide Intake/Interview Sheet

TY 2025 Hawaii Supplemental Intake Sheet

TY 2025 Tax-Aide Hawaii Taxpayer Document Checklist

Qualified Tip Deduction Worksheet for Employees

Qualified Tip Deduction Worksheet for Self-Employed

Qualified Overtime Deduction Worksheet

Qualified Passenger Vehicle Loan Interest Worksheet

What To Expect When You Arrive

You will be greeted by a volunteer client facilitator or counselor who will provide you with the intake forms and worksheets you must complete for service.  They will also ensure you have the following required documentation:  government-issued photo IDs, Social Security cards or ITIN letters, and banking information (if you want direct deposit or debit). If you are missing the required documentation, you will be asked to return at a later date, as we cannot start your return until we see these items.  If you have an appointment, please arrive at the site about 20 minutes in advance of that time to receive and complete the required intake forms and worksheets (see next section). 

After you have completed the forms, a volunteer will review your intake forms for completeness  You may then be asked to wait until a tax counselor is available to conduct an intake interview and prepare your return.

How Your Tax Return Will Be Prepared

A tax counselor will review all your documents and conduct an intake interview to verify that your return is within our scope of service and that you have the appropriate supporting documents to prepare your return.   After the intake interview,  if the site is using the same day drop-off method, you will be asked to wait on-site in another room or in your vehicle until the return is completed.   The counselor may need to ask follow-up questions during return preparation, so please answer your cell phone or remain where you were told to wait.
At sites doing face-to-face preparation, you will be in the presence of the counselor while your return is being prepared.

Once your return is completed, another volunteer will review your return to ensure it is accurate, and either the volunteer who prepared your return or the one who reviewed it will go over it with you to ensure you understand it.  If you have any questions about your return, please ask them during this review.  You (and your spouse, if this is a joint return) must sign Form 8879 to accept responsibility for the return and to allow us to e-file it.  You will receive the original Form 8879 with your signature, a copy of your tax return, any payment vouchers if you have an amount due, and all of your tax documents prior to leaving the site. 

Your return will be electronically filed within 24 hours of completion (signed 8879).  If an error on your return causes it to be rejected by either the IRS or the state, a volunteer will contact you by phone to advise you of the issue and steps that must be taken to resolve the rejection.  This will usually require you to return to the site on its next operating day so the error can be fixed and you can be given a new copy of your return if necessary.  Certain changes may require you to sign a new Form 8879, so joint filers should both be present during this process.

Tracking Your Refund After Filing

As noted earlier, your return will be e-filed within 24 hours after completion and usually accepted by the IRS and the state in the same time period.

With direct deposit, e-filed returns usually result in federal refunds within 10 to 21 days and state refunds within 10 to 20 days.  Requesting a paper check instead of direct deposit usually adds 7 to 10 days to these time frames, but may be longer this year as the federal government moves away from issuing paper checks.  See this paper for information about federal refunds in 2026.  Filing a paper return adds a minimum of 7 days to your refund processing, and may add much more, particularly if you file near the April deadline.  To check the status of your refunds:

• Federal: Click here to access the IRS’ Where’s My Refund tool or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1954 (automated info) or 1-800-829-1040.
• Hawaii:  Click here to access the Hawaii refund locator page or call the state Department of Taxation at 808-587-4242 or 1-800-222-3229 (outside Oahu).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I phone someone to be sure a site is open today?
Please do not call any of the sites unless a phone number is shown on our site list.  Site closures are normally scheduled in advance and shown on these lists.  Sites will be open as scheduled except under emergency circumstances. 

Who is eligible for services at an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site?
Almost anyone can receive free assistance, though we focus on older adults with low and moderate incomes.  However, your return must fall within the scope of our volunteer training.

Do I have to be a member of AARP?
AARP membership is not required.  Tax-Aide is a free community service provided through the auspices of the AARP Foundation and the IRS.

May I make an appointment?
Some sites accept or require appointments, but most serve taxpayers on a first-come, first-served basis. Specific site policies are stated on our Oahu and Neighbor Island site schedules posted above.

Is it really free – even e-filed returns?
Yes, there is no charge for our services and tips and gratuities cannot be accepted. 

What if the Tax-Aide counselor makes an error on my return?
We do our best to avoid errors in the first place by having a second counselor quality review the returns before they are released to the taxpayer.  When mistakes do happen, we will assist taxpayers in correcting the errors but we are not responsible for penalties or interest arising from such errors.  The taxpayer is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the return and should ensure that he/she reviews the return with the preparer before leaving the site.

Do both spouses need to be present?
We prefer that both spouses be present during the preparation of a joint return since each spouse is legally responsible for its content.  If one spouse is not available, the other spouse can come in alone to have the return prepared, but must obtain the other spouse’s signature on Form 8879 and return the form to the site before the return can be e-filed. 

What do I need to bring?
See our Document Checklist document.

What forms can be prepared?
Please see our current Scope document. We have limited ability to complete certain sections of Form 5695 (Energy Credits), and Form 8606 (Non-deductible IRA).  Note that we cannot prepare returns for taxpayers seeking to claim credits for installing solar water heating systems or photovoltaic, geothermal, or wind power generating systems, as these are outside the scope of our volunteer training.  Note also that individual sites may not be able to prepare certain forms if their volunteers do not feel comfortable doing so due to lack of experience.  These will be identified as annotations on the paper Scope document posted at the individual site.

What forms will NOT be prepared?
Please see our current Scope document. Also, any other forms or schedules not listed as “can prepare” are out of scope, as are any annotated documents on the paper Scope document posted at individual sites.

How about information from a K-1?
We can handle simple K-1’s that contain only royalties, interest and dividends and moderate capital gains.  K-1’s with any other entries are out of scope.

Are state returns prepared?
We only prepare Hawaii state returns for full-year residents filing Form N-11.  Form N-15 for part-year or non-residents is outside the scope of our volunteer training.  We can prepare state returns to claim refundable credits even if no federal return is required, although we recommend filing a federal return anyway to protect your identity from tax fraud.

How about General Excise Tax Returns?
No, our volunteers are not trained to prepare that type return.

If I arrive before closing time, will my return be completed?
New returns are generally not started during the last hour listed for the site, to enable our volunteers to clear the site and return it to the use of our generous sponsors. Upon arrival, the client facilitator will advise persons of the likelihood of being served that day and may cut off the line based on the number of returns we estimate can be completed that day. Taxpayers may be referred to another site and/or advised to return on a different day if service cannot be provided that day. Note that in February (our busiest month), it is possible for client intake to be cut off very early in the session due to the volume of taxpayers seeking assistance.  We also generally will not amend any tax returns or prepare prior year returns during the month of February due to client volume.

Does the taxpayer need to complete any forms?
Yes, each taxpayer is required to complete the “IRS Form 13614-C Intake/Interview & Quality Review Sheet” and a Hawaii Supplemental Intake Sheet before the return can be started – these forms are provided at the site or you can go to the What We Need From You section of this site to download, print, and complete these forms in advance of your visit.  Assistance in completing the forms is available from the client facilitator and counselor.  Depending on their specific circumstances, taxpayers may also be asked to complete additional worksheets for itemized deductions, business income and expenses, education credits, etc.

Are the counselors competent and well-trained?
Yes.  All of our counselors are required to attend training classes and pass an IRS certification test annually. 

Are there other centers offering free preparation service?
Yes, VITA partners provide services to lower income taxpayers.  To locate a VITA site near you, call 1-800-906-9887.  IRS Offices no longer provide direct assistance in preparing returns, but can refer you to volunteer partners who may be able to assist you.

I misplaced or lost my copy of my tax return.  Can Tax-Aide give me another copy?
Unfortunately, due to cost and time considerations, we are unable to do this.  You can obtain a copy of your complete tax return for a fee or obtain a transcript at no cost from the IRS.  See IRS Tax Topic 156 for information on how to obtain these.

How long does it take to get my refund?
With direct deposit, e-filed returns usually result in federal refunds within 10 to 21 days and state refunds within 10 to 20 days.  Requesting a paper check instead of direct deposit usually adds 7 to 10 days to these time frames, but may be longer this year as the federal government moves away from issuing paper checks.  Filing by paper adds a minimum of 7 days to your refund processing, and may add much more, particularly if you file near the April deadline.  To check the status of your refunds:

• Federal: Click here to access the IRS’ Where’s My Refund tool or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
• Hawaii:  Click here to access the Hawaii refund locator page or call the state Department of Taxation at 808-587-4242 or 1-800-222-3229 (outside Oahu).