Still Time to Receive Free Tax Assistance at the IU Northwest School of Business and Economics!

VITA program assists families making less than $49,000 annually with preparation and filing of state and federal returns indiana-university-northwest

Families in Northwest Indiana making less than $49,000 annually are eligible to have their state and federal tax returns prepared and filed through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program at the Indiana University Northwest School of Business and Economics, Chicagoland’s Affordable AACSB Business School.

VITA sessions will be held on Fridays from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the Dunes Medical/Professional Building, located on the IU Northwest campus at 3400 Broadway in Gary. Upcoming sessions are scheduled for Friday, April 2, and Friday, April 9. For more information, or to make an appointment, contact the IU Northwest School of Business and Economics at (219) 980-6552. Walk-ins are also welcome during VITA session hours.

To provide this popular service, the business school and the IU Northwest Accounting and Business Student Organization (ABSO) have teamed with Northwest Indiana Community Action and the Internal Revenue Service. Business and accounting students at IU Northwest are trained by faculty members and IRS representatives to prepare and file the electronic tax returns.

This year, VITA volunteers can help filers with changes in tax laws that may increase their refunds. Working taxpayers are eligible for the Make Work Pay Credit. Students or their parents may receive an expanded American Opportunity Education Credit. There are credits for first-time homebuyers and for families that bought a new car. Some families may benefit from the Lake County Real Estate Tax Credit or the Unified Credit.

Families who utilize VITA assistance are asked to bring all form W-2’s, 1099’s, Social Security and government payment notices, any tax rebate amounts received, and any other notices of income, mortgage interest, taxes paid, qualified tuition payments, contribution, rents paid, names and addresses of landlords, and any other tax-related information, as well as all family and dependent Social Security cards and birthdates.

This year, there is a special deduction for real-estate taxes and sales tax on new car purchases, even for filers who take the standard deduction, so everyone who pays real estate taxes or purchased a new car should bring proof of the amount of taxes paid.

There are no charges for the VITA service. Refunds are typically sent within 10 days.