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Fisher College Accounting Students Offer Free Tax Help to Low-Income Families
Published: 2004-03-26
Every year, many local, low-income taxpayers miss out on thousands of dollars in tax credits that the federal government makes available. This tax season, a group of accounting students at the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University is volunteering its time through the Fisher College Tax Clinic to ensure that these individuals get the refunds to which they are entitled.
Supervised by Fisher College Accounting Senior Lecturer Bill Raabe, more than 20 graduate and undergraduate accounting students are participating in the City of Columbus Earned Income Tax Coalition (EITC), a group of partners that encourages families to take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit. Families that earned less than $34,692 in 2003 may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
The Internal Revenue Service trained the students, as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). In addition to providing tax assistance, the students can also provide electronic filing services for both federal and state income tax returns at no charge to the taxpayer.
On Fridays, the
“Not only is this good hands-on experience for our students, but it also brings a lot of money back into the local community,” Raabe said. “The students make certain that the individuals claim the full Earned Income Tax Credit, as well as the child, education, and child care credits. One of our students uncovered a refund of more than $4,000 for a local family. The family got the full amount – none was lost to filing fees or quick-refund charges.”
Through the Fisher College Tax Clinic, the free VITA tax preparation assistance is open to households with a total income of less than $35,000 for single or head of household tax returns and to households with an income of less than $50,000 for married couples filing jointly.
To schedule an appointment at an EITC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site, call 614-645-7309.
