Signal Tribune Newspaper

Accounting majors at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) are assisting students and community members with their 2009 tax returns free of charge through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The program will run through April 9 at the university, but volunteers will not be able see clients when the campus closes for Spring break, March 29-April 4.
VITA is a cooperative effort by the Internal Revenue Service and many individual states, including California, to provide income tax assistance to low- and moderate-income individuals, the handicapped and the elderly. Volunteers are trained to prepare basic income tax returns at VITA sites. Returns can take up to 30 minutes to prepare.
Last year, Cal State Long Beach’s volunteers prepared more than 550 returns for people both on and off campus.
The CSULB VITA program has 37 volunteers who have been trained and certified by the IRS to prepare and E-file basic income tax returns and foreign student tax returns. They are also qualified to answer many tax questions or concerns that those coming in for assistance may have.
There are limitations to those who can use the service. VITA volunteers do not prepare business tax returns. In addition, the CSULB program can only assist those who made less than $50,000 in 2009.
Those interested in having their 2009 tax returns prepared through the CSULB VITA program should bring the following items: proof of identification; Social Security cards, including their spouse’s/dependents’ (or a Social Security number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration); birth dates, including spouse’s/dependents’; the current year’s tax package; wage and earnings statements (W-2, W-2G, 1099-R); and interest and dividend statements from banks (1099 forms).
Additionally, clients also should try to bring a copy of their federal and state returns from last year (if available); bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit; total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider’s tax identifying number; and, if a client paid rent for at least half of 2009 for property in California, rental dates and landlord’s information.
The CSULB VITA program operates out of Room 237 on the second floor of CSULB’s College of Business Administration (CBA) Building, 1250 N Bellflower Boulevard. It is open on Mondays from 8am to 6:30pm, Tuesdays-Thursdays from 8am to 7 pm, and Fridays from 8am to 4pm.
VITA program participants are advised to use the metered parking in Lot 15, adjacent to the CBA Building. The cost is $2 per hour.
Walk-ins are welcome; appointments can be made by calling (909) 645-5488 or vita.csulb@gmail.com.

More Information
csulb.edu/~bap (click on VITA)