Bozeman Magazine

 Accounting students from Montana State University’s Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship are offering free help preparing tax returns for MSU students and individuals who made less than $54,000 last year.

The 2022 help sessions will be held on the MSU campus in Jabs Hall, Rooms 211 and 215, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Feb. 23 and 28.
• March 2, 7, 9, 21, 23, 28 and 30.
• April 4.

An appointment is required for all sessions. To view open slots and book an appointment, visit signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=s.signup&urlid=10c0d4caea628a4f9c52-taxassistance&view=standard. Participants should make only one appointment; participants who make multiple bookings will be removed from all scheduled appointments.

At the sessions, upper-division and graduate accounting students will be available to prepare federal and state income tax returns and answer tax questions. Free electronic filing will be available for most 1040 forms. Assistance with international tax returns is not available this year.

Individuals who are interested in free tax preparation assistance should bring their 2021 W-2 forms, Forms 1099, Forms 1095-A, B or C (Affordable Care statements), any other tax documents, photo identification, social security cards for each person listed on the return and copies of their 2020 tax returns, if available.

The student accounting volunteers are part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program, which the Internal Revenue Service established to assist people who may find it difficult to pay for tax preparation services. The program also gives accounting students practical experience.

Each student accounting volunteer has passed an IRS tax preparation exam, completed at least one comprehensive tax course, received specific training related to common tax issues and has access to a variety of federal and state reference materials. The sessions are sponsored by the MSU Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

For more information, email vita@montana.edu.