Stetson University students offer tax filing assistance

DELAND, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - We are about two months away from the tax deadline. If you need help filing, students at Stetson University and volunteers at other locations can assist you free of charge. 

For the last four years, Ron and Karen Smith have gone back to the classroom to do their taxes. “I don't see why anyone wouldn't want to do it,” Karen said.

The DeLand couple is getting their taxes done for free by students at Stetson’s Lynn Business Center, though at first, they say they did have second thoughts.

“Uh, a little bit maybe at first, but once I did it once I was just fine with it,” Karen Smith said.

Sixty graduate and undergrad students have gotten special training and certifications to do people's taxes. To qualify for the help, clients must have made less than $54,000 last year, and not have any complicated deductions.

“We don't do rental properties, we don't to foreign earned income, we don't to foreign students, or military combat pay,” said Stetson’s Bonnie Holloway, “things like that are too complex for us.”

When it comes to most returns, their student tax pros say they're more than up to the task.

“Yes, that's our ultimate goal, to get the maximum return. Of course, in accordance with the law, obviously,” said student tax preparer Jessie Tenbroeck, “we will do our best to get them what they are ultimately entitled to.”

This is the program's eighth year at Stetson. They say in that time they've had about 1,500 clients and recovered more than $1.5 million in tax returns for them. While it is students doing to the work at Stetson, free tax preparing is available for all qualified earners at other centers statewide.