University of Mount Olive students offer free tax preparation for Wayne County through VITA

Joel Gilly, host of Wayne TV, spoke with University of Mount Olive site coordinators about a student-run Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program that provides free tax-preparation help to Wayne County residents.

Wayland Woodall, assistant dean at the University of Mount Olive, said the program lets certified student volunteers prepare returns that site coordinators then review before electronic filing with the IRS. Woodall said the service is free: "And all of it's for free." He added the program gives students hands-on experience: "We call VITA sort of the internship before the internship."

The site serves individuals and families whose total income falls at or below $67,000 for the tax year. Tonya Smith, an assistant professor at the University of Mount Olive and co-site coordinator, said the student volunteers do not prepare business tax returns and that more complicated filings may fall outside the students' scope.

Appointments are offered on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.; the site stops accepting new clients at 6 p.m. to allow students time to finish returns. The service runs through April 9, except for the week of spring break beginning March 12 when the campus-based site will be closed. Walk-ins will be accepted when capacity allows, but coordinators ask people to make appointments in advance.

Clients should bring tax documents, a state-issued photo ID, Social Security cards for taxpayers and any dependents, and last year’s tax return if available. Married taxpayers should bring their spouse because both must sign filing documents, Smith said. The site is located at 652 R. B. Butler Drive; Woodall noted that address differs from the university’s general campus address listed elsewhere. For appointments or information, coordinators gave the phone number (919) 658-7675 and said details are posted on the university website.

Woodall and Smith said roughly 11–12 student volunteers are certified this year. The coordinators review each prepared return before filing electronically to the IRS. The service is open to anyone in Wayne County meeting the income guideline, not only University of Mount Olive students.

The program combines community service with practical training for accounting students, the coordinators said, and is intended to help residents who may otherwise struggle with filing. Joel Gilly encouraged eligible county residents to take advantage of the free service.