Aurora students offering free tax preparation, health expo

Free income tax preparation is back at Aurora University.

The Dunham School of Business will offer its ninth annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, a partnership with the IRS, from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Feb. 19 to April 2 (except March 12), in the lobby of Dunham Hall, 1400 Marseillaise Place, Aurora.

The free service, including immediate e-filing, is available to low-income, elderly and disabled residents, including non-English speaking taxpayers earning up to $50,000. No reservations are accepted.

Taxpayers should bring copies of personal documents to the service. Requested are copies of Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, 2010 W2s and other tax statements, state and federal 2009 returns, voided check or deposit slip, 2010 real-state tax statement and child care provider identification, if applicable.

Bilingual college students will provide translation assistance for Spanish-speaking taxpayers.

About 35 business students under the tutelage of three CPAs who are accounting professors in the Dunham School — Tim Moran, David Diehl and Len Scholl — will prepare state and federal tax returns.

For a second year, students from the School of Nursing and School of Social Work will assist with tax preparation and health care activities.

In conjunction with the tax preparation, a third annual Health Expo at Dunham Hall will offer free blood pressure checks and memory screenings for the public.

This is the ninth consecutive year that the IRS has approved AU accounting students to prepare tax returns free for the public in the VITA program.

Last year, about 40 AU students, faculty, staff members and former students prepared a record 1,050 tax forms — 525 each federal and state forms — free for the public.

For more information, call (630) 844-7557 or e-mail au-vita@aurora.edu.