From Tuesday, February 15th through Wednesday, April 6th, Carolina Coastal University accounting students are giving back and gaining some vital experience.
The students, through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, are preparing and e-filing basic tax returns for people who earn less than $50,000.
"Its not simply 10-40 easy, which a lot of those other free programs limit you to. We do 10-40 easy, A, 10-40 long form. We itemize. We can do some self employment. The only thing we do not do is if you have rental income or if you have businesses," Utocqua Grissett, the Horry County VITA Coordinator said in a past interview with NewsChannel 15.
Last year, local volunteers assisted more than 1,400 taxpayers filing tax returns in 2010 with the taxpayers receiving more than $1.5 million in refunds. It is estimated that the free service offered at the VITA sites saved these Horry County taxpayers more than $210,000 (average $150 per person).
If you're interested in getting a free tax return prepared, the VITA program will be available in room 204 of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration building on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. There will be no VITA hours during CCU's Spring Break from March 14 to 18.
