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Mount Aloysius College Business Program Offers VITA Tax Help(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) CRESSON, Pa., March 7 -- Mount Aloysius College issued the following news release: Area residents seeking help with tax returns can find it through the Mount Aloysius College's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA is now in its fifth year at Mount Aloysius College. Members of the Student Accounting Society (SAS) have received training by a Pittsburgh-based IRS representative. Student VITA volunteers - accounting majors and MBA grad students - have earned IRS certification during intensive training at the College, have set up shop and are ready to help. VITA tax help is available through the month of March. Mount Aloysius President Tom Foley noted that the response from business student volunteers is heartening but not surprising. "Every club on our campus has a community service component built right into the club's constitution," said President Foley. "Last semester alone, students at Mount Aloysius College donated nearly 8,000 hours of service to the community. Giving back to our community is a central part of what we call our Mount Aloysius Campus Compact. Simply stated," he said, "at Mount Aloysius, our goal is educating students to become job-ready, technology-ready and community-ready. Community service is part of who we are as educators and regional neighbors. We're glad to be able to offer this service to the community." To qualify for VITA tax preparation help, area residents must be of low to moderate income, with families earning $50,000 and below. In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, Most Aloysius College - like most VITA sites - also offers free electronic filing (e-filing). Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program should receive refunds in half the time compared to paper returns - even faster when tax refunds are deposited directly into a bank account. Mr. Christopher Mingyar, Business Department faculty member and VITA coordinator noted that clients should call ahead to make an appointment. "The phone number for the VITA office is 886-6365. If there is not an answer," he added, "please leave a message, so one of our program coordinators can call you back." Senior accounting students Alexandra Mezza and Danielle McKnight serve as volunteer coordinators for this year's Mount Aloysius VITA effort. The Mount Aloysius College VITA Office is located in the iconic Main Building, room 101-C. Hours of operation are by appointment, so it is best to call ahead. Reserved VITA client parking is available on the north side of the Main Building near historic Alumni Hall. Anyone who qualifies and who wishes to use the Mount Aloysius College's VITA program should treat the service no differently than if they were going to an accountant. Items needed to complete their return may include: proof of identification; Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration; Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter for you, your spouse and dependents; Proof of foreign status, if applying for an ITIN; birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return; wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers; interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099); a copy of last year's federal and state returns if available; proof of bank account routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit, such as a blank check; total paid for daycare providers and the daycare provider's tax identifying number (the provider's Social Security Number or the provider's business Employer Identification Number). VITA volunteers stressed that for couples filing jointly, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms. CC AutoTriage10PkS-140308-30TacordaCheng-4661060 30TacordaCheng (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |