Local university offers income tax assistance

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program enlists qualified accounting students to help prepare income tax filings for free. 

Designed to help low-income taxpayers, people with disabilities, limited English-speaking taxpayers and more, the VITA program will offer assistance to the public from Feb. 7 to April 8. The IRS-sponsored program consists of university accounting students who have passed at least three qualifying tests to prepare income tax returns. UCO Accounting faculty will oversee the operation, checking each return for accuracy. 

The service will be first come, first served, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Room 107 of the university’s College of Business building in Edmond. Priority will be given to those determined to be most in need. U.S. residents with an adjusted gross income of $72,000 or less in 2022 may also use the free online service at www.olt.com.  

Taxpayers looking for assistance should bring all necessary documents, such as social security cards, W-2 forms and 1099 forms, with them to receive proper service. International students must also bring passports, visas and any 1042-S forms received in 2022. 

The program will be closed from March 11-18 for the university’s spring break. 

For more information on the VITA program, visit blogs.uco.edu/vita or contact UCO Instructor of Accounting Riley Shaull at [email protected] or 405-974-2846.