Ossining High School Accounting Students Prepare Tax Returns at No Charge

Ossining High School accounting students are once again preparing tax returns at no charge for people in the community who earn $54,000 or less a year, as well as people with disabilities, the elderly and those with limited English proficiency.

The students are assisting people on a walk-in basis from 4-8 p.m. on Mondays through April 3. They have all been certified by the IRS to provide free, basic income-tax return preparation with electronic filing.

Last year, the students prepared more than 100 tax returns.

The Interfaith Council for Action Housing Network, an IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, has provided free tax preparation services to the community since 2005 and has partnered with OHS accounting teacher Debra Jacoby and her students for the last five years.

Ms. Jacoby, who is a certified public accountant, takes the certification test each year and prepares her students to take it. Students also have to take an ethics test and sign a confidentiality agreement to get certified.

The tax preparation takes place in room 111 at OHS, 29 South Highland Ave. Students start the last tax return of the evening at 7:15 p.m. For information about what to bring with you, visit https://www.irs.gov/individuals/checklist-for-free-tax-return-preparation.

(File photo.)