Free tax assistance available at UIU

Students of the Upper Iowa University School of Business Accounting Department will provide free income tax preparation at Fayette Campus on Mondays, February 12 – April 9. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be provided from 4 – 7 p.m. each day on the second floor of the UIU Andres Center for Business and Education. Note: Due to the University’s Spring Break, the service will not be available March 5.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is sponsored by the IRS. Individuals or families who made $54,000 or less during 2017 are generally eligible to participate. Both state and federal income taxes will be prepared and filed electronically. In addition to previously completing federal taxation coursework at UIU, each of the student volunteers preparing the tax returns has completed training for IRS certification.

Those who participate are asked to bring a copy of their tax returns from the last three years or tax return transcripts, W-2s, and 1099s. The preparers will not have access to last year’s return information. To request a transcript, go to www.IRS.gov and under “Tools,” click on “Get a tax transcript.” After answering the questions, the transcript can be printed. Persons may also call 1-800-908-9946 and follow the prompts.

UIU School of Business students Austin Vaughn, a senior management major from Garwin, Iowa; Sabreena Zainal, a junior accounting major from Fayette, Iowa; and Tuyen Chau, a sophomore accounting major from Da Nang, Vietnam, will be among those assisting with the tax preparation. For additional information regarding the VITA program at UIU’s Fayette Campus, contact Blair M. Seim, assistant professor of accounting, at 563-425-5180.