Last year, the local AARP Tax-Aide program and local volunteers provided free federal and N.C. tax return counseling and preparation for more than 2,000 Moore County residents.

These 2010 federal and state tax returns were all filed electronically to ensure prompt processing and rapid payment of any refunds.

The AARP Tax-Aide Program is the nation's largest free, volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service. This year, the program expects to significantly increase the number of customers assisted in Moore County.

To do this, additional volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are needed to assist with one-on-one counseling and tax return preparation as tax preparation counselors, as well as volunteers to serve as site facilitators.

Tax preparation sites in Moore County will include the Senior Enrichment Center, the Southern Pines Public Library and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore facility.

Tax preparation counselors will be comprehensively trained and required to pass a competency test to become IRS certified as a tax counselor.

Volunteer training is being conducted at the Moore County Senior Enrichment Center, 8040 U.S. 15-501, just north of the Traffic Circle, this month.

Volunteers who become IRS certified are asked to make a target commitment of two each, four-hour sessions per week during the 10-week filing season from Feb. 1 to April 13.

To volunteer, or for more information about becoming a local AARP Tax-Aide volunteer, contact the local AARP Tax-Aide coordinator, Bill Roberson, at (910) 673-1452.

AARP Tax-Aide is administered through the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service. The AARP Foundation is an AARP affiliated, tax-exempt, nonpartisan charitable organization.