Students stressing about the April 15 tax deadline have an option offered through the local community college, called TVI Tax Help.
Tax help is a national Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program that is offered through the Internal Revenue Service which is available free to taxpayers who made less than $33,000 last year.
"It relies on volunteers to train staff," said Robin Brule, director of Development at the Technical Vocational Institute.
The free tax preparation has been offered through TVI for 29 years, but has become more popular in the last few years, said Fred Gordon, TVI accounting instructor.
This tax season, a grant from PNM has allowed the program to expand by providing funds to advertise the service. PNM also donated $15,000 for volunteer training.
According to a press release, TVI has one of the largest tax assistance programs in the nation.
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The tax help program is now part of the curriculum for accounting students at TVI, being offered in the college's course catalog for two years.
"I thought it was good for students," Gordon said. "It gives them skill, it's a community service, it allows them to interact with people and it's a rÇsumÇ builder."
Gordon said there are between 150 and 200 volunteers who prepare taxes for the program.
The majority of volunteers are students, but there are also community volunteers, including some students from Del Norte High School.
Gordon said students involved in the program are receiving college credit while they are still in high school.
Volunteers are trained through TVI courses or online if they are community volunteers.
About 80 percent of tax filing is done electronically and if volunteers do them wrong, the forms are rejected, Gordon said. Experts or volunteer coordinators complete rejected forms.
Last year, TVI volunteers prepared 8,544 tax returns and have a goal of preparing 10,000 this year.
Most clients are students, elderly or economically disadvantaged, Gordon said.
"I really think it's an amazing program," Brule said. "It really helps the economic development in New Mexico. Most people who participate don't realize they qualify for benefits."
Gordon said that most people can expect their tax returns within a week, if their taxes are filed electronically and have direct deposit at their bank.
Five locations around Albuquerque, including the main campus, perform the service.
Students interested can call 224-4TAX or visit www.tvi.edu/taxhelp/ for locations and hours of operation.
