CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Accounting students in the Wilson College of Business at the University of Northern Iowa are providing free income tax assistance again this year through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Assistance in the preparation of tax returns will be available on Wednesdays from Feb. 14 through April 3 (excluding March 13, the week of Spring Break). Returns for foreign students and scholars will be prepared beginning Wednesday, March 20.

Returns are being prepared from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesdays, with registration starting at 5:30 p.m. in room 223 of the Curris Business Building on the UNI campus. We accept walk-ins (and drop-offs (virtual tax return preparation) only. We are not scheduling appointments this year. You are encouraged to arrive early to sign-in and complete the required intake/interview form before being assigned to a tax preparer. Only a limited number of returns will be completed each night.

VITA was established by the Internal Revenue Service to help low-income taxpayers who may find it difficult to pay for tax preparation services. The program also provides accounting students with an experiential learning opportunity as they work with taxpayers.

Students will be available to electronically prepare and e-file federal and Iowa tax returns for eligible taxpayers. Accounting students have completed a one-semester comprehensive tax course, plus additional training for IRS certification, and have access to a variety of federal and state reference materials.

Taxpayers seeking assistance should bring the following: social security cards for the taxpayer, spouse, and dependents; valid photo identification; a copy of last year’s Federal and Iowa tax returns; Form W-2, "Wage and Tax Statement," from each employer; Forms 1099, for such things as interest, dividends, or retirement payments; a list of other income and expenses; Form 1098-E, student loan interest statement; Form 1098-T, tuition payment statement (also bring institution billing statement); Form 1095-A if health insurance was purchased through the Marketplace; banking information (account and routing numbers) for direct deposit of refund; and all other information pertinent to your 2023 tax return. 

For more information, call the UNI Department of Accounting in the Wilson College of Business at (319) 273-2394.