AARP/Tax Aide Grand Junction, CO

01/06/2026

📣 **Tax Season Is Almost Here—We’re Ready to Help!** 📣

Thinking about taxes? Let us take the stress out of filing!

The **AARP Foundation Tax-Aide** program will once again offer **FREE tax preparation** by IRS-certified volunteers for your **2025 tax returns**, starting **February 2**.

📍 **Location:**
US Bank – Lower Level
Fourth Street & White Avenue

🗓 **Important Dates:**
• **Appointments open online:** January 14
• **Appointments by phone:** Starting January 26
• **First day returns are prepared:** February 2
• **Last day of service:** April 15

🕘 **Hours:**
Monday–Saturday | 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

📅 **How to Make an Appointment:**
➡️ Online: Visit **cotaxaide.org/ta** and select **“Make an Appointment”** from the left-hand menu
➡️ By phone (starting Jan. 26):
📞 970-589-3789 or 970-210-5705

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in cooperation with the IRS and is open to taxpayers of all ages.

✅ Trusted.
✅ Certified.
✅ Free.

Please feel free to share! 💙

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04/17/2025

Another tax season in the books! Thanks to our community for coming in and letting us assist with preparing your taxes for the 2024 tax year! For the record, we prepared 3,137 returns that equate to $4,986,318 in refund money for our community! Statistically, this money will roll over 3 to 7 times within the Grand Valley and surrounding areas!

Our site is closed now and will reopen next year, 2026.

A BIG SHOUT OUT to Mesa County RSVP, Inc. for sharing their space at the US Bank! It’s greatly appreciated! This allowed the Grand Junction AARP/Tax Aide to generate over 8,000 hours of volunteer service! AARP/Tax Aide Grand Junction, CO will be recognized at the Volunteer Appreciation Event on May 29, 2025.

03/10/2025

AARP Foundation/Tax Aide wants to say THANK YOU to those who have come to our site letting us assist you with filing your 2024 taxes! It's been a productive season!
At this time, our appointments are booked up. We do have a waiting list, so please call us if you need assistance and we will try to work you if openings come about.
As well, a special SHOUT OUT to Mesa County RSVP, Inc. for sharing their space at US Bank! 💚
Thanks again for helping to make our community great! 💚

02/02/2025

Remember this Tax Credit! EITC

Earned Income ? Tax Credit! EITC

One third of workers eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit may be newly qualified for the credit each year. Let’s make sure no one misses this benefit. Help the spread the word about : www.irs.gov/eitc

Spread the word about the Earned Income Tax Credit: Your friends, family or neighbors could miss a valuable tax credit if they don’t know about the . See: www.irs.gov/eitc

Your friends, family or neighbors could miss a valuable tax credit if they don’t know about the Earned Income Tax Credit. Spread the word about : www.irs.gov/eitc

Free tax prep in Teller County at 4 locations. Email [email protected] or call 719-203-1265

Claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit? Get all the tax credits, including , you deserve without spending a cent. Find a free tax prep site near you: www.irs.gov/vita

Ready to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit but need a little help? -certified volunteers might be able help you claim the and all the tax benefits you deserve. And it’s free! www.irs.gov/vita

Free tax prep in Teller County at 4 locations. Email [email protected] or call 719-203-1265

01/31/2025

🚨 𝙏𝙖𝙭 𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 50 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝘿𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨!🚨

Senior discounts aren’t the only way to save money when you get older — you can also lower your taxes. That’s right: Starting as young as age 50, you may become eligible for some valuable tax breaks from Uncle Sam.

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙀 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣--“The most important kicker when one is over 50 is the additional deductible contribution to a 401(k) or IRA,” says John Power, a certified financial planner at Power Plans in Walpole, Massachusetts. “These are often the highest-earning years, and they often synchronize with children becoming independent,” reducing household expenses. If this is your situation, Power encourages maximizing your retirement savings.
Great news for retirement savers! In 2025, the contribution limit for 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan rises to $23,500 (up from $23,000 in 2024). If you're 50 or older, you can contribute an extra $7,500, bringing your total to $31,000. Plus, workers aged 60-63 get an even bigger catch-up contribution of $11,250, allowing for a grand total of $34,750!

For IRAs, the standard limit stays at $7,000, with a $1,000 catch-up for those 50+. But remember, income limits apply for IRA tax deductions and Roth IRA contributions.

Contributing to a traditional IRA or 401(k) lowers your taxable income, potentially reducing your tax bill. However, Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s offer tax-free withdrawals in retirement.

Sadly, only 15% of eligible savers take advantage of catch-up contributions, and 40% of U.S. households risk not maintaining their pre-retirement lifestyle.

Take control of your future—start saving now! 💰🔥
Source:

Uncle Sam offers a handful of perks to taxpayers of a certain age

01/17/2025

Tax Tip: Updated Contribution Limits for 2025
The limits for retirement and savings contributions are reviewed annually based on inflation. While these limits don't always increase yearly, in 2025, some plans saw incremental adjustments based on inflation.1

A graphic depicting 50% of Americans.
Here are the contribution limits for 2025:

Traditional and Roth IRA Contribution Limits: The IRA contribution limits will remain unchanged for 2025, allowing individuals to contribute $7,000 or $8,000 for those 50 and older.1
SEP-IRA Contribution Limits: The SEP-IRA contribution limit will rise from $69,000 in 2024 to $70,000 in 2025.2
Health Savings Account (HSA) Contribution Limits: For individual coverage, the HSA contribution limit will increase from $4,150 in 2024 to $4,300 in 2025. For family coverage, the limit will rise from $8,300 to $8,550, with the $1,000 catch-up contribution for those 55+ remaining unchanged.3
These adjustments offer opportunities to consider for your retirement savings in 2025. Review your contribution strategies today.

Pro Tips: To qualify for tax-free and penalty-free earnings withdrawals, contributions to a Roth IRA must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances, such as the owner's death. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.

In most circumstances, once you reach age 73, you must begin taking required minimum distributions from a SEP-IRA and other defined contribution plans. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.

Once you start Medicare, you can no longer contribute pretax dollars to your health savings account (HSA). Any money withdrawn from your HSA for a nonmedical reason is considered taxable income and faces an additional 20% penalty. This penalty is void after age 65; however, it would still become taxable income.

1. Kiplinger, October 15, 2024

01/11/2025

🌟 ATTENTION COLORADO TAXPAYERS! 🌟
**𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼 𝗣𝗧𝗖--𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝘅/𝗥𝗲𝗻𝘁/𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲**
Did you know that even if you’re not required to file a tax return, you might still qualify for the PTC Rebate?
Here’s what you could receive:
✅ Up to $600 for property taxes paid (including taxes deferred under the Property Tax Deferral Program).
✅ Up to $192 for heating bills paid.
Who Qualifies?
📌 𝗔𝗴𝗲/𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
• 65 or older (by year-end of 2024) OR
• Surviving spouse, at least 58 or older. If you were divorced before your spouse died, you are not considered a surviving spouse and must therefore meet one of the other age criteria OR
• Disabled individuals (any age 18+ with full-year disability benefits). Also, must have qualified for full benefits from January 1 to December 31, 2024 from a bona fide public or private plan or source, based solely on your disability.
📌 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮:
• Must have lived in Colorado all year (both spouses if married).
• Hold a valid Colorado driver’s license or ID card.
• Cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.
• Total income must be below these limits:
o 2024: Single $18,704 | Married $25,261

📢 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆!

01/11/2025

**🌟 𝘼𝙏𝙏𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝘾𝙊𝙇𝙊𝙍𝘼𝘿𝙊 𝙎𝙀𝙉𝙄𝙊𝙍𝙎! 🌟**
Did you know you MAY qualify for the **Senior Housing Credit** *AND* an additional **TABOR refund** when filing your 2024 tax return? 💰

Even if you’re not required to file taxes, you’re encouraged to file and claim what you may be eligible for. Don't miss out on these benefits!

📢 **Spread the word to your family and friends who may qualify!**

01/08/2025

𝗧𝗔𝗫 𝗧𝗜𝗣: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺𝘀!
Some solar panel salespeople might mislead customers, claiming that time is running out to claim the Residential Clean Energy Credit, but this credit is available until 2032.

Key details about the credit:

-It covers 30% of the cost of new, qualified clean energy property (like solar panels) installed between 2022 and 2032.
-The panels must be installed on your main home.
-Solar roofing tiles and shingles qualify, but not the roof trusses or traditional shingles supporting the panels.
-Any subsidies, rebates, or incentives you receive must be subtracted when calculating the credit.
-The credit is non-refundable, meaning it reduces your tax liability but won't result in a refund. If you have no tax liability (e.g., if you're retired or earn below the filing threshold), you may not benefit from the credit.

Remember, before committing to any purchase which claims to have a tax implication, always consult a tax professional.
Source:

You may have heard stories about people being misled and fed false information by solar panel salespeople. Falling prey to these scams can end up costing you thousands of dollars.

01/06/2025

𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗽:

Scammers commonly set up fake charities to take advantage of people’s generosity during natural disasters and other tragic events. Taxpayers should use the Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool to check that an organization is legitimate before they donate money.
~IRS Tax Tip 2024-88, Nov 7, 2024

Search information about a tax-exempt organization’s federal tax status and filings.

01/06/2025

It’s almost that time! Thinking about Taxes, we are ready to help!

The certified volunteers with the AARP Foundation/TaxAide free tax preparation program will once again be available to complete your 2024 returns, starting Feb. 1. The AARP Foundation/TaxAide location will be at the US Bank, at Fourth Street and White Avenue, in the lower level.
Taxpayers will need to make appointments starting Jan. 15. Appointments can be scheduled online at the Colorado TaxAide site, cotaxaide.org/ta. Once there, select “Make an Appointment” from the left hand rail.
Starting Jan. 27, appointments can be scheduled by calling
970-589-3789 or 970-210-5705.
Feb. 1 will be the first day available to do returns. The site will be open from 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Returns will be completed through April 15.
AARP Foundation/TaxAide is offered in cooperation with the IRS.