Accounting Students and Professor Offer Free Income-Tax Preparation

Jennifer Tom of Lebanon, Ky., right, is one of the LWC accounting students assisting
Associate Professor of Accounting Rose Garvey who are providing
free income-tax preparation for area residents.

COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Area residents who have put off filing their 2010 taxes can get assistance from Lindsey Wilson College students. And the cost of the help is cannot be beat.

From 4-7:30 p.m. CT every Monday through April 11, Lindsey Wilson senior accounting students will provide free income-tax preparation an electronic filing services through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program.

Students who assist with the tax-preparation service have passed required Internal Revenue Service testing and are IRS "certified counselors" for basic individual income tax returns.

Individuals do not have to be members of the AARP or elderly to take advantage of the free tax-preparation services. No appointments are taken, and service is on a first-come, first-served basis.

This is the fourth year LWC has provided the free service to area residents. This year, the LWC students have served more than 100 area residents, according to LWC Associate Professor of Accounting Rose Garvey.

"It's good for experience, and it helps us apply what we have learned in our tax classes," said LWC accounting student Jennifer Tom of Lebanon, Ky. "People we have helped really appreciate it. It really makes you feel good to know you are doing something good for them."

Residents should bring Social Security cards for them and dependents, a copy of 2009 tax returns, all W-2 forms, scholarship and tuition documentation, and other income and expense items.

Once the accounting students complete the 2010 returns are completed, Garvey will review them then file them electronically for the individual. LWC was the first AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program site in Kentucky to take advantage of electronic filing, Garvey said.

Lindsey Wilson College students will provide free income-tax preparation from 4-7 p.m. CT every Monday through April 11. The service is officer in room 108 of the J.L. Turner Leadership Center, 100 Blue Raider Drive. For more information, contact LWC Associate Professor of Accounting Rose Garvey at garveyr@lindsey.edu or (270) 384-8063.