Carroll Community College and McDaniel College students will be working together to prepare income tax returns for eligible members of the community through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Returns are prepared free of charge for qualified individuals by trained and certified students from Jan. 31 through April 4, 2017. The service will be offered on Tuesday evenings at McDaniel and on Fridays and Saturdays at Carroll.

VITA offers free assistance to those with low-to-moderate incomes, including persons with disabilities and the elderly. Taxpayers who qualify include those who have an annual income of $54,000 or less. In most cases, returns can be filed electronically. Out-of-state, prior-year returns and amended returns are also prepared.

Last year was the first time that both colleges partnered to offer the service and due to its success, the collaboration is being repeated this year. Under the current arrangement, students from both colleges will be once again working together under the supervision of faculty members from both colleges. Previously both colleges had independently offered the service.

Kate Demarest, Assessment and Program Analyst and Professor of Accounting at Carroll, said, “We looked at operational efficiencies in running this program. Offering the service jointly between the two colleges brings a wealth of experience and skills to clients. Carroll has a long history of providing VITA services. McDaniel faculty members offer professional experience with a public accounting firm. An additional benefit of the collaboration is that Carroll students may be interested in transferring to McDaniel for a bachelor’s degree and McDaniel students may choose to attend Carroll after they graduate, if they need a few more classes for the C.P.A. exam.”

Kerry Duvall, Assistant Professor of Accounting at McDaniel, said, “Both McDaniel and Carroll have served the community with our VITA programs for many years. With the two programs becoming a joint collaboration, we provide tax assistance to more people. It is also a great opportunity for our students to be able to partner and learn from one another. It’s really a win-win for both of the colleges and for individual taxpayers.”

Twenty-four students have signed up to volunteer, with 10 from Carroll and 14 from McDaniel. Students may receive credit for training hours and time spent with clients. All tax preparation is by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call 410-386-8266 or email vita@carrollcc.edu. Both day and evening appointments are available.

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