UNL student, staff volunteers helping complete tax returns

Released on 02/16/2010, at 2:00 AM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln

WHERE: Nebraska East Union and Nebraska Union (maps www1.unl.edu/tour/NEU, www1.unl.edu/tour/NU)

Lincoln, Neb., February 16th, 2010 —

Approximately 60 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and staff have completed nearly 450 tax returns thus far this winter to assist low- to moderate-income families and fellow students. Last year, UNL students completed 785 tax returns and netted families more than $1.1 million in total refunds and $371,000 in earned income credit.

Sessions began Jan. 23 and continue through March 10.

The student volunteers completed tax law and software training in their free time to become certified tax preparers. In its fourth year, the UNL Volunteer Income Tax Assistance super site is a community and campus collaboration, and has increased the financial security of working families while creating ties for students between volunteer work and academic study. Student volunteers came from a wide range of majors such as accounting, pre-law and sociology. Spanish majors served as translators.

UNL is offering free tax preparation, child care, snacks, parking and access to banking services for utilizing direct deposit as one of 12 local Family Economic Security Partnership Coalition partners.

Linda Moody, assistant director of Student Involvement for Service-Learning Volunteer Services, said the students and staff help provide low-income families with the strategies and tools to make informed decisions on how to build financial assets and security. For some, managing their earned income credit can eventually mean moving above the poverty line.

The UNL program is partially funded through Learn and Serve America, Student Involvement, and the Nebraska Unions. The UNL EIC super site partners are the Lancaster County Human Services Federation and the Internal Revenue Service.

Remaining schedule for tax preparation help at UNL: Feb. 20-21, 1-5 p.m., Nebraska East Union; Feb. 22-24, 5-8 p.m. Nebraska East Union; Feb. 27-28, 1-5 p.m., Nebraska Union; March 1-3. 5-8 p.m., Nebraska Union; March 6-7. 1-5 p.m., Nebraska Union; and March 8-10: 5-8 p.m., Nebraska Union.

Nebraska Union is 1400 R St. [map]; Nebraska East Union is at Arbor and Center drives, East Campus [map].

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