Bemidji State University students offering free income tax assistance

Jan. 16, 2015 — Beginning Feb. 5, Bemidji State University students will be donating their time to offer free services as part of of the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

BSU students who have completed the Tax I course and passed IRS certification tests will offer free tax help each Wednesday and Thursday from 3-6 p.m. Sessions will continue through April 15 and are held in room 14 of BSU’s Decker Hall, located at 1717 Birchmont Drive NE. Due to the university’s spring break, sessions will not be offered March 11-12.

Students will 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 8-10 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 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.