UCO Accounting Students to Offer Free Income Tax Assistance to the Community
Jan. 17, 2025
The University of Central Oklahoma's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will provide free income tax preparation and e-filing for 2024 taxes to UCO students, faculty, staff and the greater community from Feb. 1-April 5.
The VITA program, sponsored by the IRS, offers free tax help to low-income taxpayers, persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance preparing their tax returns.
VITA will provide services from 2-5:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturdays, in Business building, Room 107, on Central's campus. VITA will be closed March 16-22 for UCO's spring break.
The UCO VITA staff consists of accounting students who have passed at least three tests to qualify them to prepare income tax returns. UCO accounting faculty members supervise the students and check each return for accuracy.
Those seeking assistance should bring all necessary tax documents, including social security cards for themselves and dependents, government-issued photo ID, W-2 forms and 1099 forms from banks, brokerages, contract work and other income sources. Receipts from charitable contributions and educational and daycare expenses should also be included.
International students must bring passports, visas and any 1042-S forms received from 2024 employers, as well as W-2 forms, 1099 forms and charitable contribution receipts.
All services are on a first-come, first-served basis. As a free public service, UCO VITA prioritizes helping those most in need.
U.S. residents with an adjusted gross income of $72,000 or less in 2024 may also prepare their federal and state tax returns for free with OnLine Taxes at www.olt.com.
For more information on VITA, visit blogs.uco.edu/vita/ or contact Riley Shaull, UCO accounting instructor, at rshaull@uco.edu or 405-974-2846.
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Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will offer free tax preparation and e-filing services for 2024 taxes from Feb. 1-April 5. These services will be available to UCO students, faculty, staff and local community members.
Nathan Aker