For the fourth year in a row, Central College and its accounting faculty and students are offering free income tax preparation services for Marion County residents. This assistance is made possible through a grant from the Iowa Center for Economic Success.

Students will prepare taxes on a volunteer basis under the supervision of accounting faculty through the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. The purpose of the program is to assist lower-income taxpayers with free tax preparation services. VITA services are open to taxpayers with less than $73,000 in annual income; limited English speakers; and those with disabilities. Those who do not meet these criteria are welcome to make an appointment, in-person or virtual, to learn to do taxes on their own.

“We have an exciting new service this year,” says Maggie Fisher Schlerman, associate professor of accounting and a 2002 Central graduate. “We have an option for free software for all taxpayers, regardless of income level. You can make an appointment with us, and we’ll guide you through filing your own return. This isn’t like the big-name software providers that claim to have free filing and then try to charge you; it truly is free.”

Clinics will be held in person during tax season at the Weller Center for Business and International Studies on Central’s campus. Appointments will be from 4-8 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Appointments will not be held March 11-18 during spring break. The program will begin scheduling appointments Monday, Jan. 23. Clients also will have the option to conduct appointments virtually.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call or text 641-629-6729 or email centralcollegeVITA@central.edu.