Volunteer Tax Assistance Available at UMaine
Contact: Steve Colburn, (207) 581-1982, George Manlove, (207) 581-3756
ORONO — UMaine accounting students will be available Thursdays through April 14 to provide free help with filing state and federal income tax returns.
Sessions, scheduled from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursdays, began March 17 in Room 218 in the Donald P. Corbett Business Building.
About a dozen students in the UMaine Business School work with taxpayers on a first-come, first-served based, according to associate professor Steven Colburn, who has overseen the university’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) since its inception in 1996.
The service is available to anyone on the Orono campus or in surrounding communities who have basic tax assistance needs. Though designed for low- to moderate-income taxpayers and people with disabilities, the elderly or students who need help, Colburn says student volunteers are willing and qualified to help small businesses with straightforward returns.
Those seeking assistance should bring W-2 forms from all employers, Form 1099, if applicable, and any other forms or information regarding income, deductions or credits. VITA volunteers can download tax forms from the IRS website, if needed, Colburn says.
All of the volunteers have taken tax preparation courses and are up to date on the latest tax law changes. Plus, Colburn double-checks each return before it leaves the building.
The program is a benefit for taxpayers in the community and is good training for students, who enjoy the interaction with walk-in clients, Colburn says.
“They really have a lot of fun and they like helping people who come in for tax help,” he says. “It makes them feel good when they can find a deduction or a credit for somebody and can get a little more money in a refund.”
VITA is sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, in conjunction with the university.
The D.P. Corbett Business Building is next to the Maine Center for the Arts building. More information is available by calling Colburn at 581-1982 or emailing steve.colburn@umit.maine.edu