University Communications and Marketing

MSUB Accounting Club President Scott Gorman prepares a tax return at the HRDC VITA site on Jan 26. 

MSUB Accounting Club hosts free tax filing service

Free tax preparation provided 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Saturdays through April 15 at the Student Union Building

Contacts:

Scott Gorman, MSUB Accounting Club, 850-9601

Mary Beth Shay, HRDC, 247-4760

University Relations, 657-2266

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — 

Montana State University Billings College of Business students have long provided volunteers to help with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provided by HRDC.

This year, however, MSUB is hosting a VITA tax preparation site on the University campus, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays, in the Student Union Building until April 15.

HRDC, located at 7 North 31^st Street, is also a VITA site providing tax-filing services from noon to 8p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays, and noon to 6p.m. on Fridays, now through April 15.

MSUB VITA Site Coordinator Scott Gorman is excited to bring this free service to the school. The program provides free income tax return preparation and electronic filing for individuals and families making less than $52,000 a year.

Both state and federal tax returns are prepared by Internal Revenue Service trained and certified volunteers.

“For a lot of individuals and households, getting your tax return is sometimes the most important check they’ll get,” Gorman said. “A lot of people use that money for necessities, like rent and food, and stretch their refund throughout the year.”

Gorman, who is also the MSUB Accounting Club president, is confident the club will help prepare and file several hundred returns for the Billings community.

“We’re hoping that as a club we can have 500 volunteer hours for Service Sting,” he said.

Service Sting is a volunteer service sponsored by the MSUB Office for Community Involvement.

In addition to working the MSUB VITA site on Saturdays, the club will chip in at the VITA HRDC site. HRDC is a private nonprofit Community Action Agency dedicated to the promotion of self-sufficiency and alleviation of poverty.

Mary Beth Shay, VITA HRDC site coordinator, said the organization is grateful for the boost in volunteers.

“We prepare a lot of returns and need all the help we can get,” she said.

If none of the HRDC’s VITA site times work with an individual’s schedule they are encouraged to visit www.montanafreefile.org to find additional resources.

To schedule an appointment at an HRDC VITA site call: 406-247-4710.

Documents to bring to your appointment

• Completed intake/interview sheet
• Social security cards for you, your spouse, and all dependents
• Valid picture identification
• All tax forms received, including W-2s, 1099s, and 1098s
• December credit union and/or bank statements
• Information about any other income you may have received during the year
• Last year's tax return
• Routing and account numbers for direct deposit
• For MT taxpayers over the age of 62: property tax receipts or rent receipt

Documentation for the following deductible items:

• Unreimbursed medical and dental expenses
• Charitable contributions
• Amounts paid for property taxes
• Tax return preparation fees
• Mortgage interest paid
• Real estate tax paid
• Student loan interest paid
• Amounts paid for you, your spouse, or dependents for higher education during the year
• Any amounts paid for child and dependent care expenses along with the provider's name, address, and tax identification number

Returns that contain the following items cannot be prepared by VITA Volunteers:

• Farm income
• Rental income
• Business income with more than $10,000 in expenses or a net loss for the year, or had inventory, employees, depreciation or business use of home expenses
• Deduction of loss due to casualty or theft
• Deduction of non-cash charitable contributions over $500
• Adoption expenses credit
• Moving expenses deduction
• Alternative fuel/plug-in vehicle credit