HAYS, Kan. -- Accounting students from Fort Hays State University will offer free income tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program through March 10.

Services will be available Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in McCartney Hall, room 116, on the FHSU campus. No service is available after March 10.

Low-to moderate-income ($49,000 and below) citizens are eligible to receive assistance from qualified FHSU students. Over the past several years, the VITA program aided hundreds of local taxpayers. Volunteers are qualified to prepare forms 1040EZ,1040A and 1040; Schedule A (Itemized Deductions); Schedule B (Interest and Dividends); and Schedule EIC (Earned Income Credit). Volunteers are not qualified to do Schedule C (Business Income); Schedule D (Capital Gains); Schedule E (Rent Income & Royalties); Schedule F (Farm Income); and foreign student returns.

No appointments are necessary. Clients will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Taxpayers will need to bring the following items to the VITA site:

• Photo identification.
• Social Security cards and birthdates for the taxpayer, spouse and dependents.
• Wage and earning statement(s): Form W-2, W-2G,1098 and 1099-R from all employers.
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Form 1099).
• A copy of last year's federal and state returns, if available.
• Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit.
• To file taxes electronically on a Married Filing Joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.
• Tuition statement from school (Form 1098-T).
• FHSU students must know whether they can be claimed as dependents on their parents' returns.

For additional Information, please contact the FHSU Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting at (785) 628-5805 or Dr. Charles Gnizak, associate professor of economics and finance, at (785) 628-4328.