STEUBENVILLE, OH—Participating in the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), accounting students from Franciscan University of Steubenville will offer tax preparation and e-filing assistance free of charge to Ohio Valley residents.

From Tuesday, February 14, 2023, to Saturday, April 15, 2023, students will be available five days per week at the Fort Steuben Mall near center court in the main entrance corridor (former location of Claire’s Boutique). All participating students have completed an individual income tax course and have passed a series of IRS training courses and exams. Free federal and state tax preparation is available to taxpayers with less than $60,000 of total income.

The hours of operation are Mondays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays from Noon to 6:00 p.m., Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Assistance will be unavailable between March 11-19 and April 6-9.

Franciscan University students can to prepare form 1040; Schedules 1, 2, and 3; Schedules A, B, and D, as well as forms for calculating child and childcare credits, education credits, and earned-income credits. In addition, students can prepare Ohio tax returns for full-year residents. Taxpayers who purchased health insurance through an exchange and received federal subsidies reported on form 1095-A are not eligible for assistance at the site, nor are taxpayers who receive a 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC. Local tax return preparation is not available.