By Michelle Roberts
Arizona Daily Wildcat
As April quickly approaches, so does the deadline for filing state and federal income taxes. But students and UA employees can now get free help on campus to help make the task a little less burdensome.
The American Bar Association and the Accounting Club are participating in a joint project to provide free tax advice and even preparation services for those who want it.
The groups, which have a total of 25 volunteers, are participating in a program sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service. There are about 10 sites across Tucson offering these services, but this is the first year that there has been a site at the University of Arizona.
"The main purpose is a kind of community service to the campus. It helps the federal government because they receive less (forms) filled out incorrectly," said John Ager, a second year law student and president of the bar association at the UA law school.
People do not always realize what credits they are entitled to or know what forms to use, said Kim Nelson, accounting club president. She said she is expecting about 4,000 people to take advantage of the service the clubs are offering.
Ager said the volunteers, who received 16 hours of IRS training, are willing to either prepare tax forms or just offer advice. But Nelson said they ask that people bring their own forms, because they do not have enough to give out.
Resident forms are available at Park, El Con and Foothills malls, as well as the Arizona Revenue Service office in Tucson. Non-resident forms must either be picked up at the revenue service office or they can be obtained by calling 1-800-352-4090.
Psychology junior Christine Brewer had the tax service help her fill out her forms.
"I thought they were helpful. I think it's a really good thing for students because it's on campus and people can get to it," Brewer said.
Tucson resident Barry Hopkins said he was very pleased with the service he received. He said the free service was great, especially compared to what commercial services are charging.
The schedule of services at UA are as follows:
ù Wednesdays Ä 8 a.m. to noon in McClelland Hall Room 123; 1 to 4 p.m. in the Student Union Cactus Lounge (extended to 5 p.m. starting March 22)
ù Thursdays Ä 1 to 4 p.m. in McClelland Hall Room 123 (extended to 5 p.m. starting March 23)
ù Saturdays Ä March 25, April 1 and April 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Law School Lobby
ù April 12, 13 and 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Student Union Cactus Lounge