AACC offers free tax help

Those grossing less than $60K eligible for student-led program

Anne Arundel Community College is scheduling appointments for its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for the 2022 tax year.

This free program, also known as VITA, is eligible for those making $60,000 or less in total income revenue. It is available at the Arnold and Glen Burnie locations.

The student-led volunteer program was adopted in 2017 by Robert “Reb” Beatty, professor and business administration department chair, who wanted to provide a benefit to the student population and the larger community.

The program, which was discontinued during the pandemic but returned last year, provides business students with practical application to their classroom lessons, while simultaneously providing a free and information-based service to those who are eligible. Students are trained in an advanced certification program that consists of four exams in order to become recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as an official tax assistance volunteer.

“This is a great experience for our volunteers and our clients,” Beatty said. “We are saving a lot of people money and headaches in terms of resources and time.”

VITA is funded through Maryland Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope, or CASH, a statewide non-profit that promotes economic advancement for low-to-moderate income individuals and families in Baltimore and across Maryland by operating numerous direct service programs, according to its website.

Maryland CASH partners with the community college to run free tax preparation sessions and provides all tax software, financial support through grants and other organizational items such as IRS authorization, Beatty said.

Oksana Fisher, VITA’s program coordinator and assistant professor in the school’s business department, said the goal is to include financial literacy lessons with each client whether it’s asking if they want their return to go into their savings or providing information on investing that money.

“We try to ask questions like ‘Would you like a portion of this return to be put into your savings account?’ so clients don’t just think about spending their return but thinking about saving or investing it somewhere,” she said.

Many clients seek the tax program because they can’t afford the hundreds of dollars it typically costs to hire a professional to file their taxes for them, said Michael Stolarczyk, a volunteer and accounting student.

“At this income level, they can’t afford to have their taxes done, especially since their taxes are so simple. So I think having a program like this is wonderful and fantastic for this income level of clientele, especially with students,” he said. “I mean students, they’re paying for college tuition, or someone in their family is, so it’s vital that they have this opportunity to get their taxes done without charge.”

“This is something that I try to promote, and I could see our program one day taking another extra step of maybe incorporating some type of profession like financial leaders element into this program,” Fisher said.

Required forms

Personal documentation, such as Social Security card

Proof of identification such as a driver’s license or other methods of a photo ID for all parties (If a married couple is filing jointly, both parties must be present)

Birth dates for you, your spouse and all dependents on the tax return

All W-2, 1098 and 1099 forms; forms 1095-A, B or C (health coverage statements)

Health Insurance Exemption Certificate (if received)

A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, proof of bank account routing and account numbers for direct deposit such as a blank check

Total cost of daycare provider and the daycare provider’s tax identifying number such as their Social Security number or business Employer Identification Number

These forms provide volunteers the information for the IRS questionnaire that will be completed alongside the client in a session.

Other documentation, such as multiple income sources, self-employed status, social security benefits, pension income, Gambling Winnings (Form W-2G), mortgage interest (Form 1098), tuition statement (Form 1098-T) and more should also be present at the scheduled appointment if applicable.

All tax forms are filed onsite. Appointments can be made virtually through the college’s Arnold location or clients can sit in a face-to-face session with a volunteer in Glen Burnie. Clients are only required to bring the necessary documentation.

Appointments are available Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon.

Services will start Feb. 8 and be available through April 8.

Clients will not be able to schedule an appointment March 18 and March 25 because the college will be closed for spring break. Taxes must be submitted by April 18.

To make an appointment visit: https:// aaccvitataxprepappointments.as.me/ schedule.php