Accounting Students Offer Free Tax Help

Accounting students in the Poole College of Management will provide free assistance in completing income tax returns for students, university employees and community members who earn less than $49,000.

About 25 accounting students who earned certification from the Internal Revenue Service are lending a hand with the annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, starting this week.

The VITA students are certified to prepare federal and North Carolina income tax returns and can help participants determine if they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.  They will help participants with the 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ forms, said Ernest Carraway, accounting lecturer and faculty coordinator for the service project.

The VITA students will offer assistance from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Feb. 19 and 26, March 19 and April 16 in the college’s computing lab, 411 Nelson Hall. The entrance is at the lower level  on the southwest corner (campus side).

Taxpayers who want to take part should bring the following with them:

• Photo identification
• Valid Social Security cards for the taxpayer, spouse and dependents
• Birth dates for primary, secondary and dependents on the tax return
• Current year’s tax package, if received
• Wage and earning statements (Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R) from all employers
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Form 1099)
• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available
• Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit
• Total paid for day care
• Day care provider’s tax identification number (either the provider’s Social Security Number or the provider’s business Employer Identification Number)