Nothing seems to cause more stress than exams and papers, but as the semester rapidly moves forward, those troubles gain an unfriendly acquaintance called tax season. In order to ease the pain, IRS-certified accounting students are waiting to help their peers and area residents wade through the bureaucratic red tape at no charge.
???According to Adam Osteryoung, a graduate student of the School of Management and the co-chair for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, Beta Alpha Psi fraternity has run a free tax preparation program for approximately four years, and prior to that, the UB Law School worked in conjunction with the fraternity to assist in tax filing.
???"Beta Alpha Psi is an honors fraternity for accounting, financial and information system students," Osteryoung said. "At Beta Alpha Psi, we pride ourselves on our community [and] our primary focus is community outreach."
Last year, the program assisted in filing over 400 tax returns for both students and local residents. According to the School of Management, using these free services can potentially save taxpayers between $100 and $300.
In reaching out to the community to make them aware of these valuable services, Osteryoung attributes much of the success of the program to Jacqueline Ghosen, director of communications for the UB School Of Management.
"Ghosen has coordinated our promotional efforts throughout the community," Osteryoung said. "We have reached out to the community via flyers, the Buffalo News and the Internet."
When seeking the help of the UB School of Management in filing taxes, it is important to come prepared. Those using the service must have a government-issued ID such as a driver's license (or a state issued non-driver's ID), passport or military ID card.
According to Osteryoung, students can obtain more information on the program's Web site, www.mgt.buffalo.edu/community/school/highlights/taxprep, but in order to qualify for these services, total annual income must fall below $42,000.
If filers wish to have their refund directly deposited into their checking or savings account, they must bring their bank routing number and account number.
"The advantage to using both e-file and direct deposit is that in most cases you receive your refund in your account in approximately two weeks," Osteryoung said. "It can take a month or longer if you mail your return in."
Kelly Kroese, a graduate student in the library and information studies program, became aware of the free tax preparation while commuting on Main Street.
"I was driving down Main Street past South Campus and I saw a sign that said 'free tax preparation services,'" Kroese said.
Kroese was considering going online to figure out how to file her taxes until she became aware of the UB services.
"Last year, I used my father's accountant," Kroese said. "This year, I plan to visit South Campus as soon as possible because it will probably be quite busy."
Jennifer Mosher, a sophomore early childhood development major, was not aware of the free tax services either.
"I just go to an accountant and she does it for me. I work a couple of jobs and I don't want to mess [my returns] up," Mosher said.
Mosher estimates that she spends approximately $30 to file her returns, but now that she's aware of the free filing services, she is considering using the program.
"I had heard of [free tax filing services] through other students, but I never took advantage of it," said Dorothy Voelckers, a graduate student in the science education program. "I used to just do them myself, but now I use a tax preparer."
Voelckers's cost for filing runs at about $50 and she was leery of how the UB program worked at first, but this year she is willing to give it a try.
Free tax preparation is offered at South Campus, 109 Allen Hall, on Saturdays and Sundays from Feb. 7 through March 1. The hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Starting March 21 through April 12, free tax preparation will be available on North Campus in 106 Jacobs Management Center.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
