College Offering Free Assistance on Tax Returns

Prince George’s Community College is looking for county residents to participate in its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

Those who take part will receive free preparation services from students training for Internal Revenue Service certification. Students, taxpayers with disabilities, elderly residents, and those with low or limited income are eligible.

Participants' state and federal tax returns will be filed electronically. Refunds will be issued within seven to 10 days through direct deposit.

“During 2011, our services saved seniors and low-income residents nearly $81,250 of tax preparation fees,” Betty Habershon, director of the Community Financial Center at Prince George’s Community College, said in a statement.

“We are expanding free preparation by partnering with faith-based and nonprofit organizations at sites throughout the county this year," she said.

The program prepared more than 1,300 federal and state tax returns this year, according to the statement, and resulted in $750,000 of federal tax refunds and more than $250,000 of Maryland refunds.

Register to volunteer at academic.pgcc.edu/cfc. For more information, call 301-322-0713 or email bhab@pgcc.edu.