Bemidji State University business and accounting students are volunteering their time and services as a part of the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Students who have completed BSU’s Tax I course and passed IRS certification tests are offering free tax assistance each week on Wednesday and Thursday nights from 3-6 p.m. in Memorial Hall Room 250. Sessions will be held up to and including April 15, with the exception of March 15-16, which fall during the university’s spring break.
These students use their tax knowledge to provide assistance to other students, including international students with special requirements, and to low-income and elderly individuals in the area who may be uncomfortable or unfamiliar with tax law and filing requirements.
VITA not only offers free preparation, but also free e-filing for those who qualify. With e-filing and direct deposit, those who qualify typically receive their refund in 8 to 10 days. The IRS has a web page explaining what people should bring with them to a VITA session (http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Checklist-for-Free-Tax-Return-Preparation).
About VITA
The Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $53,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
Contact
- Jeffrey Everhart, assistant professor of accounting; (218) 755-3873, JEverhart@bemidjistate.edu
LINKS
- IRS Checklist for Free Tax Return Preparation: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/checklist-for-free-tax-return-preparation
Bemidji State University, located in northern Minnesota’s lake district, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. A member of the colleges and universities of Minnesota State, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. Bemidji State has an enrollment of more than 5,100 students and a faculty and staff of more than 550. University signature themes include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and global and multi-cultural understanding.