On Feb. 11, the Accounting Club began preparing taxes for free for the public and will do so until April 8.
The club will prepare taxes Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Carl DeSantis Building Room 3029, said Nathaniel Forbes, senior accounting major and vice president of the club.
Forbes said 25 club members have become certified to prepare taxes for students and the public through the International Revenue Service’s volunteer-run Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. The program is limited to people who earn $49,000 or less a year.
Pamela Chuy, senior accounting major and president of the club, said the club’s VITA location is one of several around the country.
“The IRS is providing this service so people who qualify can have their taxes done properly by people trained by the IRS at no cost to them,” Chuy said.
Kristopher Fernandez, junior accounting major and treasurer of the club, said that those who want to have their taxes done must bring their original social security card and a Florida driver’s license.
Married couples who are filing jointly must bring both original social security cards. Those who want direct deposit on their return should bring a voided check.
Forbes also said that applicants need their tax documents from last year and that the process takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes.
However, he said the length of the session depends on the volunteer and because some of club’s members are new, the process could take longer.
“If they have all their documents and have everything that’s needed, it should be easy and shouldn’t take long,” he said.
Chuy said that doing others’ taxes served the club’s purposes to: develop what students learn in class, get hands-on experience and help the community.
“This project is perfect to accomplish those goals,” she said.
Forbes said that the Accounting Club plans to continue the program next year.
