Where retirees can find help

Older Americans will benefit from tax changes in President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” that takes effect in 2025.

“What group will benefit most from last year’s tax changes? It will almost certainly be seniors and retirees,” Alex Durante, senior economist at the Tax Foundation, told CNBC recently.

But they will have to apply tax returns to see if they qualify and how much they can earn.

Elderly taxpayers can file a complaint with the IRS free programs: Voluntary Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, which provides assistance to low- and moderate-income taxpayers, and Tax Counseling for the Elderly, or TCE, which specifically helps people age 60 and over prepare their tax returns.

Also AARP Foundation Tax AssistantIt will be open through Tax Day to provide free tax preparation services, focusing on filers ages 50 and older.

“We have thousands of volunteers each year who provide free tax assistance and tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income older adults,” said Mioshi Moses, vice president of volunteer programs for the AARP Foundation.

Tax-Aide is part of the AARP Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AARP focused on reducing senior poverty. Moses said the program helps taxpayers get their hard-earned refunds and credits by offering free tax preparation services.

As older Americans prepare to file their taxes this year, some big changes could impact their bottom lines.

The “big beautiful” tax bill provides a new senior “bonus,” or deduction, of up to $6,000 per eligible person. To qualify for this season, taxpayers must be at least 65 years old on or before December 31, 2025. Since the senior relief remains in effect through the 2028 tax year, older individuals will be able to benefit from temporary tax relief in future years.

The full $6,000 deduction is available to individuals with modified adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less. Married couples where both individuals are eligible can receive $12,000 provided their adjusted gross income is $150,000 or less.

The deduction phases out for incomes above these thresholds and phases out completely for individuals with modified adjusted gross income of $175,000 or more and couples with $250,000 or more.

The tax cut could increase after-tax income by an average of $670 per eligible senior, according to the Council of Economic Advisers, an agency in the president’s office.

The new senior deduction is on top of other tax deductions, including the enhanced standard deduction created by new tax legislation. Older filers may also qualify for the longstanding senior deduction of $2,000 per individual or $3,200 per married couple.

Individual taxpayers who qualify for all three deductions would have a total tax deduction of $23,750, while married couples could see a total of $46,700, according to the CEA.

As a result of these changes, an estimated 88% of seniors will not owe taxes on their Social Security benefits because their total deductions will exceed their taxable benefits, CEA estimates.

But another 2025 law, The Social Security Fairness Act provided higher monthly Social Security payments and retroactive lump sum payments to some public retirees. As a result, those affected by the law may have increased taxable income when filing taxes this year.

Taxpayers can use online tools to find nearby locations VITA or TCE locations or AARP Tax Help sites.

Tax-Aide is available in more than 3,600 communities across the country, Moses said.

The IRS offers a list what to bring VITA or TCE site. AARP has a list basic documents and more information about what taxpayers can expect.