Walt Keating of Milton has been named the Vermont State Coordinator of the AARP Tax-Aide program – the nation’s largest free volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service. Keating will oversee some 130 volunteers and regional coordinators serving Vermonters across the state in preparing and filing tax returns. Last year the program helps as many as 6,000 low and moderate income Vermonters, with special attention to those age 60 and older, file state and federal tax returns resulting in approximately $2.5 million in refunds.
Keating is retired from over 35 years in the Aerospace industry; GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin and retiring from BAE Systems, where he served in a variety of technical and program management positions. He worked primarily in facilities in New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont over the years. Keating is the father of four daughters and has five grandchildren.
“My goals are to grow this program to serve more needy Vermonters by recruiting more volunteer counselors and building a strong management team across the state,” said Keating. “To help us increase our impact we need more computer resources -- specifically donated laptops and printers. We are also hoping to increase the number of sites around the state where we offer services,” he said. There are currently about 145 sites in the state.
Keating stressed the need to bring new volunteers into the program, which provides comprehensive training and program-related travel expense reimbursement. No prior tax or financial background is needed, nor do volunteers nor clients need to be an AARP member, he said.
AARP Tax-Aide is administered through the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated, 501 (c) (3) nonpartisan charitable organization. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization with 138,000 members in Vermont and 40 million members nationally. Through a wide array of special benefits, services, and information resources, we help our members make important choices, reach their goals and dreams, and make the most of life after 50.
