Who said accountants don't know how to have fun?
• Group offers free income tax preparation for students
By Stephanie H. Olsen
Scott Jackson of Peterson Allred Jackson tells USU student income tax volunteers about the new tax laws. / Photo by Stephanie H. Olsen
Last year USU's honors accounting fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi, prepared 700 student tax returns through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and spent more than 500 hours doing it.
The fraternity feels that this year could be even bigger and spent last semester preparing for VITA by converting the annual service project from paper-based returns to e-file computer returns.
Forty fraternity members spent the last two Saturdays in six-hour training sessions presented by professionals from Salt Lake City, Ogden and Logan to learn the new TaxWise program and review changes in the tax laws.
Scott Jackson, a partner in a local firm, Peterson Allred Jackson, informed students of three new tax laws enacted in the past year alone.
"The hardest part about preparing taxes is everything keeps changing," said Jackson. Jackson went on to explain the importance of following the instructions and having a tax code book close by.
While the fraternity is offering their expertise as a service to the USU student body, Beta Alpha Psi faculty adviser Cassy Budd feels the members get the most out of the project.
"It gives the students a chance to practice the skills they are learning. They learn more preparing student tax returns than they do in the class room," said Budd.
Budd's assumptions were confirmed by graduate student and fraternity member Trevor Garn when he said, "Doing VITA is a good simulation for real life."
The members are excited and want students to feel comfortable coming to them to prepare their taxes.
"It is a good opportunity to get your taxes done for free. We are given permission by the IRS to run this program and so students don't have to worry about any mistakes that might be made," said graduate student Melissa Webster.
Webster was echoed by Garn who said, "Take advantage of this service because we can help you maximize your tax benefits."
VITA will run from Feb. 17 to April 10 in Sci-Tech Room 117.
The site will be open the following hours: Tuesdays 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Wednesdays 2 p.m.-6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. VITA will not be offered the week of spring break.
So, for all you students out there who feel more stress over taxes than finals, seven laptops donated by the IRS, 40 trained Beta Alpha Psi members hundreds of tax laws are waiting for you and your shoebox of receipts.
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