For the 26th year, Professor Ramon Fernandez and more than 50 UST accounting students, alumni, friends will provide free income tax return preparation and electronic filing from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays until April 15 at the MD Anderson YMCA, 705 Cavalcade, 77009. There are only two Saturdays left. 

The group will offer these services as part of the IRS VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. The UST/YMCA site has been the largest one in the city; where UST volunteers complete about 100-200 returns per Saturday. Managed and run completely by UST students and alumni, the program offers a 100 percent computerized VITA site as well as free electronic filing.

Free services include preparation for Forms 1040EZ, 1040A, the 1040 long form, itemized deductions (Schedule A), interest and dividend income (Schedule B), simple capital gains and losses (Schedule D), and most of the personal credits (earned income credit, child tax credit, education credits, dependent care credit. Services generally exclude more complicated returns like self-employment income (Schedule C), rent and royalty and K-1 income (Schedule E), and Form 1040NR, which is the form required of nonresident aliens and foreign (F-1 Visa) students.

Volunteers will offer priority services in a separate room to members of the UST community on the Saturdays: Feb. 21, 28, March 7, 14, 28, and April 4. Appointments are not available. Tax preparation will be offered on a fist-come, first-served before noon.

Please bring a copy of your previous year’s return (if available), the social security cards of taxpayer/spouse/dependents, and your current year "papers" such as W-2s, 1099s, bank and investment statements, 1098-T tuition payments, 1098-E student loan interest, 1098 mortgage interest, child care provider statements.

Returns should take about an hour, and can be filed electronically for free. Electronic filing means that you will be able to get your refund within two-three weeks instead of the usual four-six weeks for a paper return.

For more information, call the YMCA at 713-697-0648.