Niagara University again offering free tax preparation assistance to Niagara Falls community

Professor James Ingham to coordinate volunteer program

Continuing a tradition that has become almost as inevitable as taxes themselves, accounting students from Niagara University's College of Business Administration will again provide free tax preparation assistance to members of the Niagara Falls community this tax season.

The only difference is that, for the first time in several years, NU's award-winning service will not be coordinated by Alfonso Oddo, who retired in June. Taking his place will be James Ingham, an assistant accounting professor at the university.

"I am honored and humbled to be the one selected to oversee this very important community service," said Ingham, who owns an MBA and is a certified public accountant. "Al's shoes are big ones to fill, but I am excited to have the opportunity to advance the university's mission in this meaningful way."

Sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, the program, called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, is entering its 31st year at Niagara. Under the program, NU students prepare and electronically file federal and state tax returns free of charge for elderly and low-income taxpayers in the community. Members of Beta Alpha Psi, the international honor society for accounting, and the college's Accounting Society coordinate the program.

Beginning Feb. 9, assistance will be provided from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. at Niagara University (St. Vincent's Hall, Room 205) on the following dates:

• Feb. 9, 14, 16, 21, 23 and 28.
• March 1, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 and 29.
• April 3, 10, 12 and 17.

No appointments are needed to participate in this free service.

Niagara University's VITA program has garnered national accolades from Beta Alpha Psi, an organization with more than 300,000 members in 289 chapters on college and university campuses around the world.

For more information, call 716-286-8050 or visit www.niagara.edu.