UA student members of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars are volunteering their time in a tax assistance program open to the University and Tuscaloosa communities.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, in collaboration with the American Association of Retired Persons, will offer a free tax aide program to UA students, faculty and the Tuscaloosa community. Beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 3, interested persons may stop by 305 Ferguson Center on the UA campus from 5-9 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for help with filing taxes.

The NSCS recruited 35 UA students for training to become certified tax volunteers. These volunteers will be available to offer instruction and advice on tax preparation. “Most of them are accounting majors, and they are so excited to be doing this,” Gabrielle Lambert, NSCS president, said.

According to Lambert, all of the tax filing will be done electronically, with laptop computers provided by the Ferguson Center. “E-filing is much more efficient than paper filing, and fewer mistakes are made,” Lambert said.

Anyone who wishes to take advantage of this free service should bring the following items with them:

• Social Security cards for all family members
• Copy of last year’s tax returns (federal and state)
• All W-2 forms from each employer, if you earned a salary
• All 1099 forms that show interest, dividend or miscellaneous income
• Form 1099R, showing pension, IRA or annuity income
• Form 1099G unemployment compensation statement
• SSA 1099 if you were paid Social Security benefits
• All forms indicating federal or state income tax paid as estimates
• Child care provider information
• All receipts or cancelled checks, if you plan to itemize deductions

The tax aide program is sponsored by the NSCS, the AARP, the Ferguson Center and the Healthy Campus Initiative. For more information, contact Gabrielle Lambert at 205/247-9844 or Grace Shelby at 205/347-8657.