Students offer free tax assistance through April 16

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is available to the general public free of charge at two sites through April 16.

Volunteers are providing free assistance with the preparation of non-business, personal income taxes during this period, including free e-filing of tax returns. Sponsored by Western Washington University's Beta Alpha Psi and Accounting Society, the VITA program is staffed by students from Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College, and other members of the community.

Locations and hours for VITA assistance are:

• Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Parks Hall Room 336 on the Western Washington University campus. Parking during these times is free in the C lots on campus.
• Mondays from 5  to 8  p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Whatcom Community College's Heiner Library.

All VITA sites are closed Feb. 20 for Presidents' Day. The WWU VITA site will be closed March 8 to 26 for exam week and spring break, and the Whatcom Community College VITA site will be closed March 23 to April 2 for spring break.

No appointment is necessary for any of the above locations. Assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

To receive tax assistance, please bring all relevant tax documentation (W-2, 1099s, etc.), copies of purchase and sale documents for all investment sales, and a copy of your 2010 (last year's) tax return.

For more information, contact Beta Alpha Psi's Bryan Rohde at vita.wwu.bap@gmail.com or (425) 830-2742.