Accounting students will get a little extra industry practice, while students and members of the community will get a little extra free help this tax season through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

Students will be assisting taxpayers with less than $54,000 in yearly household income file their basic federal, state and local tax returns, according to a press release.

The assistance will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 17 and 24 in Room 134 of University Center on Main (UCOM), at 169 S. Main St.

The tax assistance is available by appointment only. Interested parties should call 570-408-4710 and leave a message with their name and number. Taxpayers filing joint returns must have their spouse present.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, often abbreviated “VITA,” is a government program meant provide access to free assistance with preparing tax returns for individuals making less than $54,000 a year, those with disabilities and those whose English speaking is limited.

According to the website’s VITA site locator, only one other site exists in Wilkes-Barre.

This will be senior accounting and finance double major Trudi Casier’s second year participating in the program. This year, she is serving as a senior site coordinator, which entails “overseeing and teaching the new juniors how to do everything,” she said.

She said that the experience has been enriching — both from educational and philanthropic perspectives.

“VITA is an excellent program for students to get real-life experience doing taxes. I participate because it has been an exceptional learning experience in more ways than just the tax prep, and we are helping out community members,” Casier said. “It really is a win-win for everyone involved.”

Casier said that community members are consistently more likely to use the service, but that students need not shy away.

“It’s certainly a good resource if any students need their taxes done too,” she said.