Tax Assistance program to begin February 10

Accounting students from the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College are taking part in Notre Dame’s 36th annual Vivian Harrington Gray Tax Assistance Program (TAP) beginning Feb. 10 (Saturday).

The free program, in which volunteer tax preparers assist low-income taxpayers with preparation of their federal, state and local returns, will continue through April 16. It will not operate from March 9 to 18 due to the students’ spring break.

According to Ken Milani, professor of accountancy at Notre Dame and program coordinator, taxpayers with annual incomes of $38,000 or less may receive free assistance by bringing the necessary information to one of the 10 TAP sites in the South Bend area. They should bring copies of their federal and state tax returns from last year and all other relevant documents. Information concerning possible itemized deductions—such as real estate taxes, personal property taxes, medical bills and charitable contributions—also should be made available to tax preparation volunteers.

Milani said that people with more complicated tax problems should bring them to one of TAP’s four major centers: the River Park, La Salle, and downtown branches of the St. Joseph Public Library, or the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library. Certified public accountants will be on duty at these locations.

Last year 3,462 tax returns were filed for Michiana residents by the program’s volunteers. There is no charge for the service, which is supported by funds from Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and supplies provided by the Internal Revenue Service and the Indiana Department of Revenue.

Further information, including the locations of program centers, may be obtained by calling 574-631-7863, or from the program’s Web site at www.nd.edu/~taptax

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