BOZEMAN — 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 $60,000 last year.

The 2024 help sessions will be held on the MSU campus in Jabs Hall, Room 215, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the following dates: Feb. 21, 26, 28; March 4, 6, 18, 20, 25, 27; April 1.

Interested participants are encouraged to make an appointment to guarantee a spot. There will be a limited number of walk-in spots each day. Visit https://bit.ly/msu-vita-2024 to view and book available appointments. Only one appointment is allowed per individual – people with multiple bookings will be removed from all appointments on the schedule.

At the sessions, upper-division and graduate accounting students will prepare federal and Montana state income tax returns and answer tax questions. Free electronic filing will be available for most 1040 forms.  

“The mutually beneficial nature of this program is what makes it so special,” said Brian Gillespie, dean of MSU’s business college. “Students gain valuable real-world experience while providing an essential service for the local community.”

Individuals who are interested in free tax preparation assistance should bring their 2023 W-2 forms, Form 1099, Forms 1095-A, B or C (Health Insurance Marketplace Statements), any other tax documents, a photo ID, Social Security cards for each person listed on the return and copies of their 2022 tax returns, if available.

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

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, visit https://www.montana.edu/business/accounting/vita/.