UMaine Students Offering Free Tax Return Assistance
Contact: Steve Colburn, (207) 581-1982
ORONO — University of Maine accounting students are providing free assistance to the public for federal and state income tax return preparation again this year at the Orono Public Library, Friday afternoons through April 15.
The students are supervised by Steve Colburn, associate professor of accounting in the Maine Business School. Professor Colburn reviews all tax returns before they are electronically filed for a faster refund.
While the UMaine Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is designed for low- to moderate-income taxpayers, people with disabilities, the elderly or students who need help, the service is available to anyone on campus or in surrounding communities with basic tax-assistance needs and income of $58,000 or less. It is sponsored in conjunction with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
Appointments are required for income tax help, and may be made by calling Professor Colburn at (207) 581-1982 or emailing colburn@maine.edu. The service is offered Fridays from 12:30-3 p.m. at the Orono library at 39 Pine St., behind Pat’s Pizza.
Taxpayers should bring all tax records for 2010, including Form W-2s for wages, and Form 1098 for interest income, in addition to last year’s tax return, if available.
Due to last-minute changes in the tax law by congress, some taxpayers will not be able to file until about mid-February, while the IRS re-programs its computers. Taxpayers, however, can still begin the process of preparing returns electronically and save them until the IRS says it’s time to file, Colburn says.
Affected taxpayers include those who plan to itemize deductions, rather than take the standard deduction, take advantage of the $4,000 deduction for tuition and fees, or take the $250 deduction for out-of-pocket expenses for teachers.