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Baldwin Wallace University is stepping up again as tax season rolls back around, but the coronavirus pandemic will dictate some changes to the annual BW Tax Clinic.
The
BW
School
of
Business
will
again
partner
with
the
Cuyahoga
EITC
Coalition
to
offer
a
designated
IRS
Volunteer
Income
Tax
Assistance
(VITA)
site
with
free
tax
preparation
services
for
low-
and
moderate-income
taxpayers.
(In
general,
that
means
less
than
$57,000
in
gross
income.)
The clinic, which moved away from a drop-in model in recent years, will again require appointments in 2021 and - new this year - will mandate that taxpayers drop off all required documents and return to pick them up once completed, rather than waiting on site during preparation.
"For
the
health
and
safety
of
everyone
involved,
our
clients
will
not
be
able
to
sit
across
from
their
tax
preparer
as
they
complete
their
tax
return
this
year,"
explains
Lynn
Schulte,
associate
professor
of
business
and
BW
Tax
Clinic
faculty
advisor.
"A greeter will meet taxpayers at their scheduled appointment time to verify that all required documents are received," she continues. "Before a client departs, we will verify a phone number and schedule a pickup appointment for the following week."
As noted in coverage on the clinic by WEWS Newschannel 5, visitors should also note that masks are required in the Kamm Hall drop-off location at all times.
Under the supervision of faculty, the BW Tax Clinic allows trained students to gain real-world experience while providing a valuable service to the community.
The clinic has helped hundreds of taxpayers complete their annual tax returns at no cost for more than 25 years and has served as a VITA site since 2013. The clinic is also authorized to e-file returns.
For 2021, drop-off for tax preparation will take place on six Sundays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on February 14, 21 and 28, and March 7, 14 and 21.
Prospective clients are required to make a drop-off appointment by calling 2-1-1 and following the prompts or by visiting refundohio.org. Appointments are NOT available by calling BW.
Taxpayers should also take note that returns are NOT prepared without all appropriate documentation for income and related expenses, and not all tax returns are within the VITA scope of service.
Detailed instructions on scheduling and what documents to bring are available at bw.edu/centers/tax-clinic.
