Founders Memorial Library to hold tax assistance for students

By Robert Baird

Students who need tax assistance can receive free consultation from 4 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday in the Founders Library student lounge.

Goodwill’s 2013 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers help to students who make under $57,000 a year and need help with filing their federal and state tax returns through April 10.

IRS-certified volunteers will provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in local communities, said Nick Plattos, graduate assistant in the Office of Student Academic Success, in an email.

Plattos said the assistants available can “inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify, such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled.”

VITA helps international students with filing their taxes by appointment only, Plattos said.

Students that want to attend should bring a social security card, photo ID, all wage forms, college expenses, property tax bills and direct deposit information.

Walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment, call 815-987-6200.

For more information, visit www.goodwillni.org.