Students from the Missouri State University School of Accountancy are providing free tax preparation, e-filing and other assistance for taxpayers who qualify.
The department's Public Service Tax Clinic is offering its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Low Income Tax Clinic programs through April 15, according to an MSU news release.
"Our students do the tax assistance because they like to help people, they learn a lot and it helps meet our public affairs mission,” Sandra Byrd, professor in the School of Accountancy and director of the Public Service Tax Clinic, said in the release.
She added that in 2010 the department's program volunteers helped to file more than 7,000 tax returns for clients in southwest Missouri, who collectively received nearly $2 million in tax refunds.
"It’s a very large tax assistance program," Byrd said.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program typically offers help for taxpayers with incomes less than $50,000 per year, senior citizens and taxpayers who speak English as a second language. Two additional forms of assistance have been added to the program this tax season.
“This year we also will have computers available where our students can assist clients with incomes up to $58,000 to use the Internal Revenue Service free-file option,” Byrd said, referring to an
online service offered by the IRS. “The other new thing is a prepaid debit card option available for clients who don’t have an opportunity to do direct deposit.
"The card will arrive by mail at about the same time the IRS puts the money on it, so it’s a good opportunity for people to get their refund back more quickly.”
The Low Income Tax Clinic offers assistance for more specialized tax issues, typically prior tax issues involving tax returns, liens or levies. To be eligible, a taxpayer's income must not exceed 250 percent of the poverty level.
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