Johnson & Wales Media Center

North Miami Business Students
Help Make Tax Season Less Taxing

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – February 7, 2007 – Accounting students from Johnson & Wales University's College of Business will put their skills to work as volunteer tax preparers through the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Free tax preparation assistance is available for local residents now through April 12 at two university locations.

Academic & Student Center (main campus)
12900 NE 17th Avenue, Suite 102, North Miami
Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesday: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. and 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Thursday: 9:40 a.m. – 11:40 a.m and 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
No appointment necessary

Johnson & Wales Business Center:
815 NE 125th St., North Miami
By appointment only, call (305) 892-7054

Residents requiring assistance in Spanish may schedule an appointment with Sergio Varona by calling (305) 892-7666, ext. 7174.

Assistance is available with the following forms: 1040, 1040-A, 1040-EZ, Schedules A and B, 2441 (Child and Dependent Child), 8863 (Education Credit) and 8812 (Additional Child Tax Credit).

To participate in the VITA program, volunteers must receive 40 hours of comprehensive training given by agents from the Internal Revenue Service. After completing the training program, students receive certification in tax preparation. Twenty-five Johnson & Wales business students were certified through the program this year.

"From fellow college students to senior citizens, our students have helped hundreds of residents take care of this annual chore," said Joanne Leoni, Ed.D., chair of J&W's College of Business. "The bonus is that our students gain real-world experience that will help them in their careers as accountants."

Last year, students completed and submitted 226 tax returns for the South Florida community at no cost; 1,052 free tax returns have been completed through Johnson & Wales since the university began offering these services in 2001.

Johnson & Wales University, founded in 1914, is a nonprofit, private institution. A recognized leader in career education, we offer accredited degrees in business, hospitality, culinary arts, technology and education. With a diverse student body of more than 16,000 graduate and undergraduate students, representing all 50 states and 89 countries, JWU prepares students for personal and professional success by integrating rigorous academics and professional skills, community leadership opportunities and our unique career education model. The university is committed to urban revitalization and thoughtful historic renovation. Through active civic participation and by offering unique learning opportunities, JWU improves the quality of life in its campus communities in Providence, R.I., North Miami, Fla., Denver, Colo., and Charlotte, N.C. For more information visit www.jwu.edu.