Coastal Carolina University and Francis Marion University are offering tax preparation services.
Accounting students in CCU’s E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration are offering free income tax preparation services this year, according to the university’s website. This service will be offered through the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA).
“Trained student volunteers will prepare and electronically file basic federal and state income tax returns for those earning less than $54,000 a year,” states the website.
The program will run from February 19 until April 4 in room 204 of CCU’s college of business administration. Hours will be 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday. The program will not run during the week of March 11-15 due to the university’s spring break.
Participants are asked to bring the following documents to have your returns prepared:
- “Proof of identification (photo ID, for example, driver’s license)
- Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents
- Birth dates for you, your spouse, and dependents
- Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, 1099-G, 1099-R, etc.
- Interest income and dividend statements (Forms 1099-INT and 1099-DIV)
- Tuition statement, form 1098-T
- Bank routing number and account number for direct deposit of your refund (this information will be on your checks)
- Amounts paid for daycare and the daycare provider’s name, address and social security number (or the provider’s business employer identification number)
- A copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns”
CCU also asked participants to be aware of the following:
- “On a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required electronic-filing forms.
- Students need to know whether they are claimed as dependents on their parents’ tax return or whether they are independent.
- If you would like to itemize your deductions, you must bring an organized, summarized list of your medical expenses (including health insurance) and charitable contributions.
- Tax returns are prepared on a first-come, first-served basis.
- No tax returns can be started within one hour of closing time.”
For more information, contact Bobbi Yurkin at bkyurkin@coastal.edu or 843-349-2574 or Dr. Dave Mason at jmason@coastal.edu.
Francis Marion University accounting students will also offer free tax preparation services through the VITA program, according to FMU’s website.
This program will run until April 10. Services will be offered on Wednesday nights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in room 259C of Founders Hall on the FMU campus.
FMU’s program is open to all residents of the United States and there are no income requirements for the services. Both state and federal taxes can be prepared.
“The student tax preparers are seniors who are in or have passed the Accounting 428 Federal Tax II course and who have received special certification through the VITA program,” states FMU’s website.
For more information, visit FMU’s website or call 843-661-1427.