March 22, 2012

 

Contacts:
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269


Student United Way volunteers to be at Garfield Community Center on Monday with financial aid tips, free pizza

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES —  As the spring semester moves forward, some Montana State University Billings students will not only be counting credits toward graduation, but assisting others with counting numbers — their tax returns.

 

The MSU Billings Student United Way will be on hand Monday, March 26 at the Garfield Community Outreach Center, 3212 1st Ave. S., as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Free pizza along with assistance with tax preparation and assistance with college financial aid will be available from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday.

 

The students do the work free of charge for low-income and elderly residents who made less than $50,000 last year. The MSU Billings students and other volunteers are certified by the Internal Revenue Service.  At least a dozen accounting students from the MSU Billings College of Business are taking part in the program this semester. In addition, two recent graduates are also helping with the program.

 

The basic tax preparations and e-filing is being offered free of charge through the IRS sponsored VITA program at seven different locations throughout Yellowstone County through April 14. Community organizations collaborating in this effort include HRDC Community Action Agency, local credit unions, Parmly Billings Library and MSU Billings.

 

The Garfield Community Outreach Center tax preparation site — where MSU Billings has a training lab and office space —is open for walk-in tax preparation every Monday from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

 

Taxpayers using the VITA sites should remember to bring:

  • Valid photo identification
  • Social Security card for you, your spouse and all dependents
  • Birth dates for yourself, spouse and all dependents
  • All tax forms for income including: W-2, W-2G, and 1099
  • Tax information from day care
  • A copy of last year’s tax return
  • Documents (such as a personal check) showing your bank routing number and account number for direct deposit

 

It is important to remember that both spouses must be present if they are filing jointly.

 

For more information about the VITA program and Billings sites, please call Gayle L. Whittenberg, Director of Development at United Way of Yellowstone County at 252-3839, Ext. 32 or by cell phone at 698-9623.

 

For more information on the MSU Billings Student United Way involvement, contact Patti at 406-399-3291