SELF-SCHEDULING INSTRUCTIONS

The Montgomery County RSVP/AARP Tax-Aide program is designed to assist taxpayers who have relatively simple tax returns. We can help with both Federal and State of Maryland returns. If you moved during the year and need a partial return completed from a different state, call the Scheduling Office (240-777-2577) and we will have someone contact you.

For a list of tax preparation locations, addresses, and days/times of operation, visit our website at www.taxaidemc.info. Most additional questions can also be answered by reviewing the website. Call the Scheduling Office (240-777-2577) if you still have questions and we will either address your questions or have someone call you back.

Note that tax returns are required to be filed electronically with a few IRS or State exceptions. If you want a paper return, add a note in the “Additional Notes” field.

What We Can Or Cannot Do

IRS and AARP Tax-Aide impose a few limitations on what taxes we can or cannot prepare. Some of the most common limitations are provided below.

• If you received digital currency (e.g., Bitcoin) as a reward, award, or payment for property or services OR if you sold, exchanged or disposed of a digital asset, your tax return is out of scope. If you purchased digital currency on your own, but did not make any other transactions, we can do your taxes.
• If you own a house or condo that you rented for more than 15 days during 2023, you are out of scope.
• If you have a Schedule K-1 with anything other than interest, dividends, capital gains, and royalties, the tax return is out of scope.

More information can be found on our website (www.taxaidemc.info) under the What we can and cannot do heading. If you have any question about whether we can do your taxes, please check the website before scheduling an appointment or call the Scheduling Office (240-777-2577).

Scheduling An Appointment

Click on one of the tax sites listed below to select your site location, appointment date (available dates are highlighted), and time. Follow the tips below as you enter your information:

• You should expect an appointment to take about 1.5 hours and you may have a wait time before we can start your appointment. Please choose a date and time with these factors in mind.(If you see a calendar indicating your appointment is only 15 minutes long, please ignore it, this is a “glitch” in the appointment system. Not everyone sees this calendar!)
• Be sure to click the "Continue" button after selecting your time. Answer every question marked with a red asterisk (*) on the form and click on “Complete Appointment” button. This will bring up the "Confirmation" page which is the indication that your appointment has been scheduled successfully. If a question does not have a red asterisk, it is optional.
• Enter the phone number most likely to be answered if we need to contact you. Do not type a “1” in front of the area code and do not use anything but numbers (no parentheses or dashes).
• If you and your spouse are going to be listed on the tax return, you both need to be present at your appointment. If there is an extenuating circumstance as to why your spouse cannot be there (e.g., in the hospital), bring a note from your spouse authorizing you to file the taxes and if possible, have your spouse available to answer a quick phone call to verify the note.
• You may schedule an appointment for another person but that appointment should be made in the taxpayer’s name, not yours. The same phone number and e-mail address can be used for more than one appointment, if necessary.
• If you did not file tax returns in 2020, 2021, or 2022, we can prepare those returns. Be sure to schedule separate back-to-back appointments for each tax year that needs to be prepared (earliest year first) and bring the necessary paperwork. If you do not schedule multiple appointments, you will probably need to return to the site to have additional tax years prepared. NOTE: Only two appointments can be scheduled on the same day. If you need more than two appointments, please schedule the additional appointment times on a different day but be sure to schedule at the same location as the first two appointments. If you need assistance, call 240-777-2577 and a Scheduler will provide assistance.
• We can prepare amended tax returns for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.Please call the Scheduling Office at 240-777-2577 to schedule amended return appointments. Amended returns from previous years must be prepared prior to our preparing your 2023 return so take that into consideration when you pick a date for your 2023 appointment.
• Do not schedule multiple appointments unless you need multiple tax years prepared. Multiple appointments for the same tax year may be deleted from the appointment system.

You will receive confirmation and reminder messages via email. Please be sure to enter your email address correctly. Check your SPAM or similar folder if you do not see email messages from us. These messages contain a link to change or cancel your appointment. See more information about changing an appointment below.

What To Bring To Your Appointment

If you do not bring the necessary documents to your appointment, you may have to come back a second time to complete your tax return. Please refer to the What you need to bring to the appointment link on our website (www.taxaidemc.info) for a complete list of what to bring. You can also refer to your tax documents from your 2022 tax return and make sure you have similar documents for 2023 (or can explain why they’re missing).At a minimum, we will need:

• An official government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license) for you and your spouse (if applicable),
• Social security cards, green cards, or ITINs for anyone listed on the return (e.g., you, spouse, and dependents). A Social Security tax statement (Form SSA-1099) can be used in lieu of a Social Security card. We cannot prepare your tax returns without these documents.
• Copies of your 2022 Federal and State tax returns and the supporting documents if you filed, otherwise the most recent tax return you have available if you did not file in 2022,
• All tax-related documents for 2023,
• Form 1095-A if you purchased health insurance through the Marketplace Exchange (also known as ACA or Obamacare),
• The annual letter received from the IRS if you already have been assigned an IRS Identity Protection PIN.

Be sure to schedule an appointment after the date when you expect to have all your necessary documentation. If you do not have all your documents at least 48 hours before your appointment, please reschedule for a later date.

Canceling Or Rescheduling An Appointment

You must cancel or reschedule an appointment at least 24 hours in advance unless there is an emergency or illness on the day of your appointment. You can cancel or reschedule using the link included in your confirmation and reminder emails .You can also call the Scheduling Office (240-777-2577) during normal office hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00-4:00 or Saturdays, 9:00-12:30) to change an appointment.

If you are ill or have an emergency on the day of your appointment, call the Scheduling Office as early in the day as possible to let us know you cannot come to your appointment (240-777-2577).

If you miss two appointments without giving proper notification, you will not be able to schedule additional appointments during the tax season.