Free income-tax prep, e-filing March 15, 29

Free public bilingual income tax preparation and e-filing will be offered at Aurora University on two Saturdays, March 15 and March 29.

The service by Dunham School of Business faculty and students will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. in the lobby of Dunham Hall, 1400 Marseillaise Place in Aurora.

The Dunham School of Business offers its 12th annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, a partnership with the Internal Revenue Service.

Free state and federal tax form preparation, including on-site e-filing, is available to low-income, elderly, and disabled residents, including non-English speaking taxpayers earning up to $50,000.

Bilingual college students will provide translation assistance for Spanish-speaking taxpayers.

Taxpayers should bring copies of Social Security cards, driver’s license, 2013 W2s and other tax statements, state and federal 2012 returns, voided check or deposit slip, 2013 real-state tax statement and childcare provider identification.

Last year, about 40 AU students, faculty, staff members and former students prepared more than 1,000 tax forms free for the public. Taxpayers served included a dozen residents of Jennings Terrace nursing home in Aurora.

AU volunteers recovered more than $400,000 in refunds for taxpayers last season. The largest single refund, $11,120, went to an Aurora resident.

AU’s program saved taxpayers an estimated $100,000 in tax-preparation fees.

Since AU introduced the VITA program in 2002, AU tax preparers have prepared more than 3,000 returns, generated more than $3 million in refunds and saved taxpayers an estimated $600,000 in tax preparation fees.

Call (630) 844-7557 or e-mail au-vita@aurora.edu for more information.

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