Oak Glen business students to offer tax return services | News, Sports, Jobs

FUTURE TAX PREPARERS – Oak Glen High School has been approved as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site, and some students will be able to assist in the preparation of tax returns for low- to moderate-income residents. — Craig Howell

NEW CUMBERLAND — When area residents go to get their taxes done next year, they might find themselves receiving assistance from students at Oak Glen High School.

The Hancock County Board of Education, on Monday, heard from Tina Viakley, business education teacher at Oak Glen High, about a program which has allowed the school to be approved by the IRS as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site.

“This is an excellent opportunity,” Viakley said. “It’s backed by the IRS and supported by the West Virginia Treasury Department.”

From Feb. 1 to March 28, a group of nine of the school’s business students, some of whom also are members of the Future Business Leaders of America, will be available to prepare income tax returns, at no charge.

“It provides free income tax preparations for low- to moderate-income families,” explained Robert James of the West Virginia Alliance for Sustainable Families, which is administering the program in the state.

Families or individuals with an income under $64,000 will be able to make use of the program, James said, with VITA volunteers at Oak Glen preparing simple tax returns through the use of online software provided through the program.

Oak Glen High will be the second high school in West Virginia to offer the program, and Viakley said residents of West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania will be able to make use of it. The students tasked with preparing the tax returns will, through the program, receive training at no cost, and IRS certification.

“We will be running a full-service tax preparation,” Viakley said, adding they will be using Oak Glen’s media library area for the program, with the school district establishing a dedicated telephone line.

The services will primarily be offered after regular school hours.

“This is a credential they can put on their resume and carry it for a lifetime,” James said of the students’ experiences through the program.

Security measures will be taken, James explained, and each completed tax return will get an additional review before it is finalized.