IU Northwest School of Business Offers Free Tax Preparation

Families making under $50K annually are eligible for service

iun_coverBeginning Friday, Feb. 5 and continuing on most Friday evenings through April, Northwest Indiana families with less than $50,000 annual income may take advantage of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at the Indiana University Northwest School of Business and Economics. This service provides free electronic tax filing of federal and state returns for local families.

VITA sessions take place by appointment on Friday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Dunes Medical/Professional Building at IU Northwest, located near Jefferson Street and 35th Avenue.

Filers must bring a Social Security card for everyone to be included on the return. Families are also asked to bring all W-2 forms, 1099s, Social Security and government payment notices, any tax rebate amounts received, and any other notices of income, mortgage interest, taxes paid, qualified tuition payments, contributions, rents paid, names and addresses of landlords, and any other tax-related information, as well as all family and dependent Social Security numbers and birthdates.

There are no charges for this service for those who qualify and refunds are typically received within 10 days.

The tax preparers will work with individuals to explain the changes in tax laws that may impact a refund. For 2015, there are changes in exemption amounts, standard deductions and capital gains rates. Students or their parents may qualify for an expanded American Opportunity Education Credit. Some families can benefit from the Lake County Real Estate Tax Credit or the Unified Credit.

To provide this popular service, the IU Northwest School of Business and Economics and the Accounting and Business Student Organization have teamed with Northwest Indiana Community Action and the Internal Revenue Service. Business and accounting students at IU Northwest are trained by faculty members and Internal Revenue Service representatives to prepare the tax returns.

For more than 30 years, students with IU Northwest’s AACSB-accredited School of Business have received practical, hands-on experience in tax preparation and customer service, while Northwest Indiana families have enjoyed access to free tax-preparation services.

For information about parking at IU Northwest, including a practice for issuing temporary visitors’ permits, please visit http://www.iun.edu/parking/. Street parking is available. 

For more information or to make an appointment, contact the IU Northwest School of Business and Economics at (219) 980-6646.