Student Volunteers Offer Missoula Community Free Tax Assistance

Jan. 23, 2024

MISSOULA - Every Saturday from Feb. 3 through March 9, University of Montana business students with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) will donate their time in order to help hundreds of people in the Missoula community of file their taxes. The program offers free tax help to individuals or families who make about $60,000 or less. VITA also has special sessions to assist to foreign student and foreign scholar taxpayers with their tax returns.

The program is offered by appointment only and space is limited. Book your appointment online through the calendar link: https://calendly.com/vita-3/vita-clone. 

Get your tax return prepared for free!

WHEN: Every Saturday beginning Feb. 3 through March 9

TIME: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Gallagher Business Building, Room 222, University of Montana

WHAT: The VITA Program offers free tax help to those with low to moderate income ($60,000 and below).  Certified volunteers from the University of Montana receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in our community. Use of the program is by appointment only.

Items to bring to the VITA site to have your tax return prepared:

• Photo ID and either:
  • Social Security Cards for you, your spouse, and dependents and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration, or
  • Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter for you, your spouse, and dependents

• Birth dates for you, your spouse, and dependents on the tax return
• Wage and earning statement(s) from all employers (Form W-2)
• Tuition statement(s) (Form 1098-T)
• Pension distributions statement (Form 1099-R)
• Health Insurance Marketplace Statement (Form 1095-A)
• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns if available
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Form 1099)
• Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposits of refunds to your bank account
• Other tax related documents

Returns that contain the following items or Schedules cannot be prepared by our Volunteers:

• Any return with incomplete information.
• Any return with a prior year carryover.
• Schedule C: Expenses greater than $5,000; Depreciation; Shows a loss.
• Schedule D: Undocumented basis; Losses that are required to be carried over to the following year.
• Schedule E, Schedule F, Schedule H are out of our scope

Note: Special sessions will be held for foreign students.

If you have questions, you can contact Kent Swift at 406-243-4182 or kent.swift@mso.umt.edu or call Clem Lockman at 406-546-6571.