As part of the public affairs mission at Missouri State University, students from the School of Accountancy will be available to assist individuals with free tax preparation, e-filing and questions about other tax issues as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Low Income Tax Clinic (LITC) programs. Assistance will be available through April 15 at scheduled times in Glass Hall on the Missouri State campus and at various locations around Springfield for 2011 tax preparation. Year-round assistance is also available for other tax issues.

“Our students do the tax assistance because they like to help people, they learn a lot, and it helps meet our public affairs mission,” said Dr. Sandra Byrd, professor in the School of Accountancy and director of the Public Service Tax Clinic. “Last year, working with other Across The Life Span (ATLS) program volunteers, over 7,000 tax returns were e-filed for clients in southwest Missouri who received over four million dollars in federal tax refunds. It’s a very large tax assistance program.”

The VITA program offers free 2011 income tax preparation and e-file assistance via both walk-in clinics and by appointment. The program is open to taxpayers with household incomes under $50,000 per year, older adults and taxpayers who speak English as a second language. A complete list of scheduled times and locations for walk-in assistance is available on the Public Service Tax Clinics website, by dialing 211 or calling (800) 427-4626. To schedule an appointment at a specific location, call (417) 864-0030.

“This year we will again offer a pre-paid debit card option available to clients who do not have an opportunity to do direct deposit,” said Byrd. “The card will arrive by mail at about the same time the IRS puts the money on it, so it’s a good opportunity for people to get their refund back more quickly.”

LITC services are available by appointment only. The LITC offers assistance for special tax issues and controversies including: issues with prior tax returns, liens or levies, compromises, “currently not collectible” status, or understanding letters from the IRS. In order to be eligible for LITC assistance, a taxpayer’s income cannot be more than 250 percent of the poverty level. To schedule an appointment for LITC assistance, call (417) 836-3007.

ATLS and the IRS are collaborating to host Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day on Jan. 27. It is a national grassroots effort spotlighting the EITC, which is a potentially life-changing tax credit of up to $5,751 for certain working, low-income individuals. A news conference will be held at 10 a.m. at Legal Services of Southern Missouri, 809 N. Campbell Ave. Questions about the credit will be answered on KY3’s “Ask a Tax Preparer” Jan. 25 from 5-6:30 p.m.

The VITA and LITC programs are made possible through assistance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Community Partnership of the Ozarks and in collaboration with community partners. For more information, contact Byrd at (417) 836-4181.

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