DeSales Students Provide Tax Prep for Free

This information was provided by DeSales University: 

Center Valley, Pa., (January 2012) – Junior and senior accounting students from y will provide tax preparation assistance free of charge to senior citizens and those with lower incomes beginning Monday, January 30, through Friday, April 6. The program is part of the United States Internal Revenue Service’s VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. Students are required to pass a test given by the IRS, in order to receive certification to participate in the program.

This marks the twelfth consecutive year that DeSales students have participated in the program. Since it was first offered, DeSales students have completed more than 2,300 tax returns for more than 1,200 Lehigh Valley taxpayers.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, individuals can call (610) 282-1100, ext. 1868. ADeSales student will return the phonecall and provide assistance accordingly. Individuals needing assistance should bring all printed tax information and all documents pertaining to federal, state and local taxes with them to their appointment.

The program is sponsored by the IRS and supervised by Dr. Christopher R. Cocozza, division head ofDeSales University’s Division of Business and associate professor of business. Cocozza has served as VITA coordinator at DeSales since the program was initiated at DeSales in 2001. Cocozza holds a bachelor's in accounting and law degree from Fordham University and a master's of law from New York University.