For close to two decades, Arvind Shah has been doing something that the majority of us probably do not enjoy: filling out taxes.
Prior to his moving to Sun City, the local coordinator for the AARP Tax Aide program worked at H&R Block for 5-6 years. Since moving, he has put in about 12 years for the community.
“I decided that I would rather retire from my paying job and work here to help the community,” Shah said.
As tax season approaches, Shah has chimed in with a service offered to the older residents of the community: a complimentary tax-help service for seniors with low and middle income.
The AARP Tax Aide Program, Shah noted, served about 560 clients last year, with about 80-90 percent of those clients coming from Sun City.
As Shah describes it, about seven people work with him as they help those fill out all the necessary tax information needed every year.
And, he notes, it is a completely free service.
“As it’s part of the program, we are not supposed to charge anything and we are not supposed to take any money or gifts,” Shah said. “We keep your private information completely safe. And we get you your return in about 7-10 days.”
The group works by appointment only, with services offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Heartland Bank and Trust on Regency Square Parkway.
Appointments must be made in person at the bank, and the service, which started Feb. 3, runs through April 9.
Shah said he and his colleagues will make sure those signing up for the service will take away the knowledge of all the documents they need to bring for the actual appointment. They leave no stone unturned.
If a disability or other handicap hinders individuals from making appointments and/or going to the bank, Shah said someone would go to the individual’s home and provide the service – as in, bring the completed forms for them to sign. However, everything is primarily done at the bank.
“With so many people constantly moving in and out of the community, I was surprised to hear the other day that quite a few new people who had no idea I was doing this for free. I just wanted to get the word out that we have this and it is available,” Shah said.
