Temple Accounting Students Offer Free Tax Assistance To Low-Income Families
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Temple University accounting students are spending their next five Saturdays preparing free tax returns for low-income families.
Students at Temple-Ambler are once again taking part in a national program that provides free tax preparation for people with incomes below $50,000 a year. Forty-five students certified by the IRS prepare the returns, which are reviewed by faculty or alums.
Temple accounting professor Dr. Steven Balsam says it's the fifth year Temple-Ambler has participated in the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. "For most working people who have just wages, maybe a little interest, they can come to our site and they can save themselves a couple hundred dollars."
Balsam says certified volunteer students do the tax returns, and they've had plenty of repeat customers. "Every year we do more returns than the previous year. And it's actually quite nice -- in some ways it's kind of like a family feel when you see people that you've seen year after year after year."
The Saturday service at Ambler is by appointment. Eligible taxpayers can schedule one at 215-204-8110. Or go to their website: IRS.Treasury.gov/FreeTaxPrep/
