(Photo via Flickr/Accu-Tax Financial Services | Tax Preparation JAX)

Tax season is in full swing, but for some people the cost of preparing the annual returns can be taxing. Students from the College of Business Administration at the University of Missouri–St. Louis want to ease the burden by offering free tax preparation services to low-income taxpayers and senior citizens now through April 12 at various locations.

The service is part of the award-winning Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. VITA has been offered by UMSL more than 40 years. Business students and faculty prepare tax returns at various locations throughout the St. Louis area.

The times, dates and locations are:

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, St. Louis Public Library, Barr Branch, 1701 S. Jefferson Ave. in St. Louis

• 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Ferguson Municipal Public Library, 35 N. Florissant Road in Ferguson, Mo.

• 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Middendorf-Kredell Branch, 2750 Highway K in O’Fallon, Mo.

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, St. Louis Public Library, Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave. in St. Louis

• 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, St. Charles City-County Library, 427 Spencer Road in St. Peters, Mo.

• 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays, St. Charles City-County Library, 1200 Corporate Parkway in Wentzville, Mo.

Each year, students undergo several weeks of tax preparation training, testing and certification. They are informed of new and updated tax laws, as well as advancements to the software Tax Wise, which is used for the VITA program.

VITA is the largest university-based personal income tax service in the region. The program is sponsored by the Gamma Psi Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, UMSL’s Department of Accounting, GECC Tax Coalition and the IRS.

Call 314-516-7188 or click here for more information on the VITA program.