NIU accountancy volunteers want to help take the tumult out of tax season.

Fifty student volunteers will help students, faculty and DeKalb residents prepare tax returns as a part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

The volunteers will provide free tax help from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Feb. 7 to March 4 and again March 21 to April 13 at the Founders Memorial Library’s student lounge.

“The VITA program is an excellent way for our accountancy students to exercise their skills,” accountancy professor Jim Young said, “and the community benefits from this program as well. It’s a win-win situation.”

Accountancy graduate student Paul Freidel is the program’s coordinator and a volunteer.

“I like getting the opportunity to help people,” Freidel said. “I usually help my family do their taxes, so I’m used to people asking me to help them with this kind of thing.”

Despite being located on campus, volunteers hope the free program also attracts DeKalb residents.

“We’ve done this for many years every tax season and we hope that everyone who needs help will take advantage of this free service,” Young said.

Program volunteers not only prepare tax returns but also take the mystery out of the process.

“We want people to get comfortable with doing their own taxes,” Freidel said. “The goal of this program is to help prepare income tax returns and also to help people to see that it’s not something to be scared of.”

Tax forms are available on the second floor of the Founders Memorial Library in the government publications section or online at www.irs.gov.

Anyone taking advantage of the VITA program must bring a W-2 form from their employer along with the appropriate state and federal tax forms.