Cal Poly Students Offer Free Tax Filing

Cal Poly Pomona accounting students will provide help to Diamond Bar residents who who need assistance filing state and federal income tax returns until April 9.

The students picked to offer the service have studied Internal Revenue Service materials and software, according to a press release, and qualified alumni also will pitch in to help.

To qualify for the program, residents must have had a gross yearly income of $55,000 or less in 2010.  The students and alumni are offering the free service at four Pomona locations.

Many of the volunteers speak Spanish, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese for residents who need translation services.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is part of a course accounting Professor Ahmed M. Abo-Hebeish teaches on service learning in taxation. Abo-Hebeish is a certified public accountant.

In the past three years, the maximum income level to qualify for free assistance has gone from $40,000 in 2008 to $55,000 in 2010. Abo-Hebeish said the students involved want to serve as many community members as possible.

“In this economy, everyone is looking for a way to save on costs,” Abo-Hebeish said. “With this service, not only do taxpayers get free assistance but they can tap into students’ extensive knowledge, all of whom have had to pass two IRS exams in order to volunteer.”

In 2009, students in the program filed a total of 238 tax returns, earning a cumulative refund of $218,000 for those filers.

To maximize the free service, Abo-Hebeish recommends that clients arrive at least an hour before closing and bring all of the required documents, including identification cards and social security cars for all household members.

Participants should also bring W-2 forms and other documents the show income such as child support, alimony or interest on money.  In order the qualify for certain exemptions, community members should bring medical and child care bills and other documentation. Abo-Hebeish said that clients should bring the paperwork, even if uncertain that something qualified for an exemption.

The campus' College of Business Administration and the Accounting Department, along with the Inland Empire United Way funds the service.

For Free Tax Help, until April 9:

Who: Cal Poly Pomona accounting students and alumni.
What: Free income tax preparation and e-filing for people whose gross yearly income is $55,000 or less.

Where/When:

• Boys & Girls Club: 1420 S. Garey Ave., Pomona; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Inland Empire Credit Union, 435 W. Mission Blvd. Suite 100, Pomona; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• YMCA of Pomona Valley, 350 N. Garey Ave., Pomona; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Pomona Public Library, 625 S. Garey Ave., Pomona; 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information: 909-869-2381.