DeSales Students Again to Provide Free Tax Preparation Assistance

Junior and senior accounting students from DeSales University will provide tax preparation assistance free of charge to senior citizens and those with lower incomes beginning Monday, January 21, through Friday, March 29.

The program is part of the United States Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Students are required to pass a test given by the IRS, in order to receive certification to participate in the program.

This marks the eighteenth consecutive year that DeSales students have participated in the program. Since it was first offered, DeSales students have completed more than 4,600 tax returns for more than 2,100 Lehigh Valley taxpayers.

To schedule a VITA appointment, individuals can call (610) 282-1100, ext. 1868. A DeSales student will return the phone call and provide assistance accordingly. Individuals needing assistance should bring all printed tax information and all documents pertaining to federal, state and local taxes with them to their appointment.

The program is sponsored by the IRS and supervised by Dr. Christopher R. Cocozza, division head of DeSales University’s Division of Business and professor of business. Cocozza has served as VITA coordinator at DeSales since the program was initiated at DeSales in 2001. Cocozza holds a bachelor's in accounting and law degree from Fordham University and a master's of law from New York University.