1/20/2021
Accounting students of Upper Iowa University’s School of Business and Professional Studies will provide free income tax preparation at Fayette Campus on Mondays, February 1 through March 26. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be provided from 4 – 6:30 p.m. each day in the first floor computer lab of the UIU Andres Center for Business and Education.
To adhere to Campus policies, masks and distancing are required upon entry through the Andres Center east door and until exiting through the building’s west door. Individuals may stay until their return is completed or their respective tax information can be dropped off contactless for later pick up.
The VITA program is sponsored by the IRS. Individuals or families who generally make $57,000 or less during 2020, persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers are eligible to participate. Both state and federal income taxes will be prepared and filed electronically.
Those who participate are asked to bring a copy of their tax returns from the last three years or tax return transcripts, as well as 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. Alternatively, persons may call 1-800-908-9946 and follow the prompts to retrieve a transcript. Those with questions can call 2-1-1.
The VITA volunteers assisting with the tax preparation include Jordan Baumler, an accounting/financial management double major from West Union, Iowa, and Colin Lacey, an accounting major from Pleasant Hill, Iowa. In addition to previously completing federal taxation coursework at UIU, each of the student volunteers preparing tax returns has completed training for IRS certification.
For additional information regarding the VITA program at UIU’s Fayette Campus, contact assistant professor of accounting Blair M. Seim at 563.425.5180.
