Taxpayers in Hardin and surrounding counties can find free income tax assistance from Ohio Northern University business and law students through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).

The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally $52,000 and below) individuals across the country who cannot prepare tax returns on their own. As part of this program, ONU students receive training and become IRS-certified to help prepare basic and intermediate tax returns and identify special credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit and Credit for the Elderly.

ONU students will offer free electronic filing (e-filing) services at the Dicke College of Business Administration (Room 140), 525 S. Main St., Ada, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 5-9 p.m. from Feb. 11 through April 10 (excluding March 4-6). Appointments are available but not required.

Taxpayers interested in these services should bring proof of identification, tax information received for the 2013 filing year (including Forms W-2, Forms 1099, and all other items marked “Important Tax Return Document/Information Enclosed”), and copies of last year’s federal and state tax returns, if available.

New this year, the IRS and ONU are providing two additional forms of income tax assistance. First is Facilitated Self Assistance (FSA) with the ONU My Free Taxes FSA link to online IRS tax preparation software which clients can access from anywhere and receive call-in help from specially trained United Way volunteers.

Second is Fusion FSA with the ONU My Free Taxes Fusion FSA link to online IRS tax preparation software which clients access in the College of Business Administration’s computer lab and receive help from ONU VITA-trained volunteers during normal ONU VITA hours.

To make an appointment or learn more, contact site coordinator Dexter Woods at Ohio Northern University at 419-772-2075 or go to: http://www.onu.edu/tax