Starting Monday, February 10, Western New Mexico University students will offer tax help to low-income individuals and families in the southwest corner of the state.
This is the 38th year WNMU students have run the local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, which is supported by Tax Help NM. This free service is for people whose household income is $56,000 or less. The volunteers — WNMU business and accounting students by day — are certified by the IRS and are trained to help taxpayers identify tax credits.
“Students get real-life tax preparation filing experience by participating in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program,” said Ashley Montenegro, the adjunct WNMU instructor and certified public accountant who sponsors this program. “Students finish their degrees having filed 50 to 100 tax returns already. The community benefits because, as long as they meet the requirements, they don’t have to pay for our students’ help.”
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program at WNMU will run through Friday, April 3. The service center will be closed for spring break March 16 – 20.
For help filing their taxes, people may come to Light Hall rooms 119 and 120 on the WNMU campus (1000 W. College Ave.) on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., or Fridays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Service is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Each individual must bring an original Social Security Card, a picture ID, W-2s or 1099s from all employers and a bank account with routing number for direct deposit, which is optional.
Local certified public accountant Linda McGee initiated the program at WNMU in 1982. Today, WNMU students donate almost 700 hours over the eight weeks when the service is offered annually, saving community members about $180,000 in fees. Last year, the seven student volunteers and three supervisors filed 918 returns and brought $415,414 back to the community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program at WNMU.
More information about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program provided by the School of Business at WNMU is available here.