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UNCP volunteers
doing income tax returns
 "The
time fast approaches, when we have to 'pay our fair share' of the bill
to run our country," said UNCP business Professor Stephen Bukowy.
To make that burden
a little easier - or at least the paperwork anyway - UNC Pembroke's
VITA or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will prepare income
tax returns again this year - free, according to Dr. Bukowy.
"The accounting
students and faculty are here to help provide income tax assistance,
and it's free," Dr. Bukowy said. "We are not in competition
with other income tax preparers. This service is intended for low income
and elderly taxpayers."
To set up an appointment,
call Dr. Bukowy at 910.521.6668.
Four students, all
in the accounting program at UNCP's School of Business,
are working on the VITA team. These volunteers have all taken and passed
the VITA income tax preparers test, and Dr. Bukowy checks their work
for completeness and accuracy.
"It is the
10th year that we have performed this service at UNCP," Dr. Bukowy
said. "I don't know why others do it, but I believe that we should
give back to the community based on our talents and skills, so that
is why I do it."
The students benefit
because they learn how to interview and deal with different people.
The accounting students also learn how to fill out the tax forms, Dr.
Bukowy said.
The VITA team will
prepare 1040EZ, 1040A and 1040 income tax forms. VITA will also fill
out schedules and forms for itemizing and Social Security. They also
prepare the necessary forms to obtain various credits such as the child
credit, the childcare credit and the earned income credit.
"Generally,
if the return is not too difficult, we will do it," he said. "We
don't do farms, corporations, partnerships, rental properties, trusts
or estates."
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