Students to Help With Tax Forms

A group of about 50 Pierce College accounting students will provide free assistance for people filing state and federal tax forms Wednesday between 6 and 8 p.m. at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills.

The walk-in service, in Room 3217 of the Business Administration Building, is intended for people who earned $35,000 or less in 1992, said Robert Lyons, the business professor who coordinates the program.

The students were trained in income tax preparation earlier in the semester by accountants from nationally recognized firms.

“It’s a nice venture,” said Lyons. “The students get professional training, and this is a real community service.”

Though students can help about 90 people per two-hour session, Lyons said demand has been growing as the April 15 deadline for filing federal and state tax returns approaches.

“All of a sudden we’ve been turning people away,” he said, noting that people should arrive early for the first-come, first-served service.

The Tax Assistance Center has been offered annually for nearly two decades. Since February, students have helped about 500 people to file their taxes.