Alliance on Aging offers free tax-preparation help for Monterey County seniors
February 19, 2026 | Monterey County, California
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The nonprofit Alliance on Aging is providing free income-tax preparation assistance to eligible low-income taxpayers age 60 and older at multiple Monterey County sites, the organization’s tax program coordinator said during the county briefing on Feb. 18.
Rita Hill, the Alliance’s tax program coordinator, said about 30 trained volunteers help seniors determine filing requirements, choose correct filing statuses, identify deductions and credits, and e-file federal and state returns at no cost. “All of our services are free,” Hill said, adding that volunteers receive training with United Way and that retired IRS staff help review work.
Hill described the program’s reach and services: it offers Medicare counseling and other benefits-help alongside tax preparation, conducts outreach and referrals for utilities and benefits, and provides in-person assistance at sites including the Marina Library, Greenfield Library, King City Library and the Alliance’s Salinas hub. Appointments are required; the Alliance provides a self-scheduling tool on its website and said callers can schedule by phone.
Hill listed typical documents to bring (photo ID, Social Security numbers or ITINs, last year’s tax return if available, and bank routing for direct deposit). She cautioned that IRS processing for paper returns remains slow and said the IRS is encouraging direct deposit for refunds. The Alliance said it can serve homebound clients by arranging visits or by bringing them to a site and that two people review every return before e-filing to reduce errors.
On recent tax-law changes Hill highlighted items she said would affect clients, including an exclusion of federal income tax on overtime and tips when reflected on a W-2 and a new senior tax credit she described as “$6,000 per senior” that reduces tax owed for qualifying low-income seniors; those program and law specifics should be confirmed with official IRS or state guidance before relying on them. Hill also said the Alliance helped more than 2,340 people last year and reported $270,000 in state refunds; the transcript’s federal-refund figure was unclear in the briefing and is not restated here.
Hill said bilingual volunteers and materials are available in English and Spanish and that computer-literacy support is offered through partner organizations for seniors who need help using online scheduling or smartphones. For appointments and site-specific phone numbers the Alliance directs residents to its website and scheduling tool, and to the Alliance on Aging organization for direct assistance.
Rita Hill, the Alliance’s tax program coordinator, said about 30 trained volunteers help seniors determine filing requirements, choose correct filing statuses, identify deductions and credits, and e-file federal and state returns at no cost. “All of our services are free,” Hill said, adding that volunteers receive training with United Way and that retired IRS staff help review work.
Hill described the program’s reach and services: it offers Medicare counseling and other benefits-help alongside tax preparation, conducts outreach and referrals for utilities and benefits, and provides in-person assistance at sites including the Marina Library, Greenfield Library, King City Library and the Alliance’s Salinas hub. Appointments are required; the Alliance provides a self-scheduling tool on its website and said callers can schedule by phone.
Hill listed typical documents to bring (photo ID, Social Security numbers or ITINs, last year’s tax return if available, and bank routing for direct deposit). She cautioned that IRS processing for paper returns remains slow and said the IRS is encouraging direct deposit for refunds. The Alliance said it can serve homebound clients by arranging visits or by bringing them to a site and that two people review every return before e-filing to reduce errors.
On recent tax-law changes Hill highlighted items she said would affect clients, including an exclusion of federal income tax on overtime and tips when reflected on a W-2 and a new senior tax credit she described as “$6,000 per senior” that reduces tax owed for qualifying low-income seniors; those program and law specifics should be confirmed with official IRS or state guidance before relying on them. Hill also said the Alliance helped more than 2,340 people last year and reported $270,000 in state refunds; the transcript’s federal-refund figure was unclear in the briefing and is not restated here.
Hill said bilingual volunteers and materials are available in English and Spanish and that computer-literacy support is offered through partner organizations for seniors who need help using online scheduling or smartphones. For appointments and site-specific phone numbers the Alliance directs residents to its website and scheduling tool, and to the Alliance on Aging organization for direct assistance.
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