Death and taxes are said to be the two constants in life. With tax season fast approaching, the University of North Carolina Wilmington is ready for another year of helping people face one of these constants.

UNCW is once again hosting its free tax e-filing assistance program for those who qualify, which translates to taxpayers who make $66,000 or less a year. The program is run by the IRS-approved Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), where all members participating in this particular program are IRS-certified UNCW accounting majors.

The main goal of UNCW’s VITA program is to provide assistance and instruction for taxpayers to file their own taxes. The program provides affordable tax filing services for the general Wilmington community as well as hands-on experience for the student volunteers.

In order to volunteer for the program, UNCW accounting students are required to have taken an introductory income tax course, pass IRS certification exams, and participate in additional IRS training to ensure their familiarity and skill with the complex world of tax filing.

“The VITA program benefits both the students who participate and the greater Wilmington community,” said Victoria Henson, associate professor of accounting in the UNCW Cameron School of Business. “Students gain valuable experience interacting with taxpayers and applying the concepts they learn in the classroom, while the community receives quality, affordable assistance with their taxes.”

The VITA programs will be hosted at two locations in Wilmington over the next three months: the first on Wednesday evenings at 813 Nixon St. in the downtown area, and on Saturday mornings and afternoons at the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (located at 803 S. College Road) until April 13.

To find out more information about dates, locations, times, and important materials to bring, please visit the service’s homepage.