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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 10/1/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
February 19, 2004 UWGB students help many file taxes School joins national group of volunteers By Cynthia Hodnett The annual trip usually took a sizable chunk out his modest tax return.
But this year, the 20-year-old Green Bay man didn't have to pay a cent
because of the efforts of several students majoring in accounting and
finance at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
The students are providing free help with tax returns through April
15, the tax deadline, at sites around Green Bay, including the Salvation
Army, 626 Union Court.
Hartfield was one of nearly a dozen people who recently had his tax
return filed at the Salvation Army, a site that has been averaging six
to 10 people a night.
Doing his own taxes is a hassle, Hartfield said. So he decided to take
the advice of a friend who told him about the free tax-assistance program.
"It's nice for people who are unfortunate, who don't have the money,"
he said. "It's better than having to pay some big company a whole bunch
of money to do it."
The student volunteers are members of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance,
an organization of 71,000 volunteers who assist more than 3.5 million
taxpayers nationwide in completing their returns.
About 35 UWGB students volunteer two hours a week. They received training
at UWGB and had to pass an exam to qualify to volunteer.
"This is a great opportunity, something to put on your resume and also
to get out into the community and do some community service," said Hope
Krepline, a 22-year old senior accounting major and one of the volunteers.
"We do all of the tax forms, except the really difficult stuff, but
we do the forms like the 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, the standard tax forms,"
Krepline said.
Most of those who rely on the program are single parents and the elderly,
she said, but the program is open to all.
Last year, UW-Green Bay volunteers helped prepare 270 federal income
tax returns, 261 state returns and 66 Homestead Credits. Many of those
assisted were from a site at St. Willebrord Parish geared toward the Hispanic
community.
"For me, it just makes me feel good to do this," said Krepline, who
has volunteered for the last three years.
"A lot of these people are so grateful," she said. "They always want
to give you something, but of course we can't accept it because we're
a volunteer organization. It makes me feel good because a lot of time
they are getting a refund back. They tell you how they are going to spend
it."
Hartfield said he's already made plans to spend his tax refund on a
car.
"I'll probably get back $600 or hopefully more," he said. "I'll be saving
it for something that will get me back and forth to work."
If you go
The free service continues through April 15 with the exception of March
15-19, when students are on spring break. Tax assistance sites and times
are:
• Fort Howard Family Resource Center, 520 Dousman St., 5:30 to
7:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.
• Salvation Army, 626 Union Court, noon to 2 p.m. Mondays; 5:30
to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Oneida Center, 2640 West Point Road, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.
• Catholic Charities, 1825 Riverside Drive, assistance by appointment
only (for appointment, call 437-7531, extension 1, and ask for Sue Ruck).
• Mary Ann Cofrin Hall at UW-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, 3:30
to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
• L.G. Wood Hall at UW-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, 3:30 to 5:30
p.m. on Mondays.
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