For immediate release: January 26, 2009

BLOOMSBURG — Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's Student Accounting Association is offering free tax help to qualified residents of Columbia and Montour counties. The help sessions, offered through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, will run from Monday, Feb. 16, through Wednesday, April 15, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 130 W. Third St., Bloomsburg. Help sessions will not be held March 2, 3 and 4.

Volunteers will provide free electronic filing for low- to moderate-income residents and those age 60 and older who cannot prepare their own federal or state income tax returns. Students will also provide information on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the largest federal program for working families.

Taxpayers seeking help should bring this year's tax package, wage and earnings statements from all employers (Form W-2), interest statements from banks (Form 1099), a copy of last year's tax returns and other relevant income and expense information.

To learn more about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, call BU accounting professor Blair Staley at (570) 389-4392.

Bloomsburg University is one of 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The university serves approximately 8,000 students, offering comprehensive programs of study in the colleges of Professional Studies, Business, Liberal Arts and Science and Technology.