FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  February 9, 2016

For More Information:
Glenville State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115

GLENVILLE, WV - Free assistance is being offered again through a partnership between the Internal Revenue Service and the Glenville State College accounting program to help students, faculty, staff, and local residents file their basic federal and West Virginia income tax returns. Two options are available to qualifying taxpayers – 'MyFreeTaxes' and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Free File.

GSC students Kristen Meadows, Cam Kinder, and Kathy Childers have been IRS certified and are helping taxpayers under the supervision of Site Coordinator and GSC Associate Professor of Business and Accounting Cheryl McKinney, CPA, MPA, CGMA. Meadows is from Gassaway, Kinder from Glenville, and Childers lives in Spencer; all three are senior accounting majors.

Glenville State College VITA students Kristen Meadows and Cam Kinder assist Tammy Statler (center) of Normantown, WV with preparing the final steps of her income tax returns

Available again this year is 'MyFreeTaxes,' which is an online collaborative between United Way Worldwide, Goodwill Industries International, and the National Disability Institute to provide free tax preparation and e-filing using H&R Block’s tax preparation software. Funding is provided by the Wal-Mart Foundation for this effort. The online tool allows eligible taxpayers with household adjusted gross incomes up to $62,000 annually to self-prepare and electronically file both federal and state returns free of charge by visiting www.myfreetaxes.com and following the easy steps.

Taxpayers who prefer to have a trained volunteer assist in the tax filing process or have questions about using MyFreeTaxes can go to Room 309B in the GSC Heflin Administration Building. The volunteers will be available now through April 14 on Tuesdays between 3:00-5:00 p.m., Wednesdays between noon and 2:00 p.m., and Thursdays between 3:00-5:00 p.m. with no appointment necessary. Note that no one will be available March 29, 30, or 31 because of GSC's Spring Break.

Participants seeking assistance at the GSC VITA site may choose the TurboTax Freedom Edition (Intuit), Second Story Tax Act, On-Line Taxes (OLT), or H&R Block Free File programs based upon eligibility criteria. Once an account is created at the GSC location, it may be accessed from anywhere.

Those who wish to receive this free tax assistance should bring: copies of their 2014 tax returns, wage and earnings statements (Form W-2) from all employers, interest and dividend statements (Form 1099), any other relevant information or forms relating to income and expenses, and bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit/direct payment if desired.

Students who received financial aid and/or paid tuition and fees should also bring a copy of their Tuition Statement (Form 1098-T) provided by the school that lists tuition and fees paid and scholarships received.

For more information, contact McKinney at Cheryl.McKinney@glenville.edu or (304) 462-6263.