February 24, 2022 – In partnership with their Rural Innovation Center, Alderson Broaddus University offers free tax preparation assistance to qualifying community members.
Known as the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), the program utilizes upper-level Accounting majors from Alderson Broaddus University that have been IRS-certified to provide free, basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
“Alderson Broaddus University and the Rural Innovation Center in Philippi are proud to offer this service that will benefit a significant number of residents of Barbour County and the surrounding communities,” explains Dr. Drew Ciccarello, Director of the Rural Innovation Center and Dean of the College of Business at AB University. “With ever-changing tax rules and regulations, many people are unsure about how to complete their taxes accurately, and those eligible for tax refunds would like them as quickly as possible. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provides both of these services – tax preparation and online filing services – free of charge. As an added benefit, it also serves to provide our students with a “real-life” opportunity to apply what they have learned and provide a valuable service to the community.”
To qualify for this program, individuals must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Earn a moderate income of $54,000 a year or less.
- Be disabled.
- Not speak English well.
- Be a senior citizen.
Designed to serve working adults, student teams will meet with community clients on a day and time that is convenient – day, evening, or weekend. An appointment is required and meetings will be conducted at AB’s new Rural Innovation Center located at 80 North Main Street in Philippi. Reservations can be made by calling Betsy McComas, CPA, at 304.457.6499 or emailing johnsoneh@ab.edu.
About Alderson Broaddus University
Alderson Broaddus University is an independent institution of higher learning, committed to serving the region as an academic, cultural, and religious resource, with programs based on a liberal arts foundation.
The mission of AB is to provide students with the highest quality education, striving to prepare students to succeed in their chosen disciplines and to fulfill their roles in a diverse society as well-rounded and responsible citizens.
AB is located on a historic hilltop in Barbour County in Philippi, West Virginia. The University is rooted in historic and continuing relationships with the American Baptist Churches in the USA and the West Virginia Baptist Convention.
For more information about AB, visit www.ab.edu.
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