February 17, 2010
• Interested parties call 205-458-8970
• Must meet income requirements
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Student members of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Business chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) will provide free tax-preparation services to qualifying members of the greater Birmingham community on the upcoming Saturdays of Feb. 20 and March 6 and 27.
High unemployment rates and other factors may affect tax filers' ability to pay for tax-preparation services, so students at UAB are stepping in to fill the void.
"Everyone deserves to have an accurate tax return filed on their behalf, and our students take a lot of pride in providing this valuable service to the Birmingham community," said NABA student adviser and UAB accounting instructor Beth Springer.
The UAB volunteer team of 50 students will set up workstations inside the first floor computer labs of the Business and Engineering Complex, 1150 10th Ave. South. Interested parties are asked to call 205-458-8970 to schedule an appointment for one of the scheduled dates between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The UAB effort is part of the larger Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program sponsored locally by the United Way of Central Alabama that partners volunteers with low-income tax filers who earn less than $49,000 annually.
UAB's student volunteers work in teams of two or three to ensure accuracy and are trained to secure the individual earned income tax credit for those who meet federal requirements. The tax credit provides a maximum refund of $5,657 to qualified low-to-moderate income earners even if they do not pay income taxes throughout the year.
Last year, UAB students helped the United Way in preparing 3,892 tax returns for greater Birmingham residents.
About the UAB School of Business
Known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center. Capitalizing on the campus' location in the heart of Alabama's largest city and business center, the UAB School of Business offers unparalleled student access to internships as well as part- and full-time employment opportunities with the state's most significant companies.