By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – Accounting students of the University of Montevallo will help residents file their tax returns through April 17.

Four upper-level accounting students have been trained by the IRS through VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Low-to-moderate income taxpayers unable to prepare their own tax returns will be offered free federal and state tax filing assistance.

Those interested in assistance can visit Parnell Memorial Library for help from students of the Stephens College of Business. The students will be in attendance on Tuesdays from 2-8 p.m., Wednesdays from 2-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

“It’s awesome for the kids because they’re getting certified to do tax returns,” said Carol Bruser, program assistant of the Office of Service Learning. “It’s already on their resumes that they worked for the IRS as volunteers.”

Senior accounting major Haley Cooedy said the students completed an online training program to be certified to assist in tax returns.

“You can go through and do practice questions and practice filing,” she said. “You take their test and get two shots at it. If you pass it, you get your certification.”

Cooedy said a similar program was offered in Jefferson County, but the assistance in Shelby County will help those who can’t drive as far.

“I think it’ll be good experience for us to go ahead and get a feel for it,” Cooedy said. “When we wind up doing it, it won’t be completely new to us.”