AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is providing in-person and virtual tax preparation help to anyone, free of charge, with a focus on taxpayers who are older than 50 and have low-to-moderate income.

Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to make sure they know about and understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code. Sites are scheduled to open Feb. 1.

The Minot site is the American Legion, 1949 N. Broadway. Taxpayers may call 509-1446 between 5 and 7 p.m. for appointments.

COVID protocols will be followed at each site. All AARP volunteers and taxpayers are required to wear masks for in person appointments. Other protocols such as sneeze guards, social distancing and sanitizing also will be in place. Taxpayers are asked not to come to the site if they feel ill or are experiencing any symptoms.

Tax-Aide offers several tax-preparation options, including:

— In-person: In Tax-Aide’s traditional in-person service, taxes are prepared and filed by IRS-certified tax counselors.

— Low-contact: Taxpayers interact with IRS-certified Tax-Aide volunteers in one or two short, in-person meetings to exchange documents.

— Contact-free: Taxpayers interact with Tax-Aide’s IRS-certified tax counselors online or by phone and exchange documents electronically.

— Self-preparation: Tax-Aide provides taxpayers with free access to software so they can prepare their own taxes. Taxpayers can also request help from a Tax-Aide IRS-certified counselor to coach them through the process through computer screen-sharing.