For the 22nd consecutive year, junior and senior accounting students from DeSales University will provide tax preparation assistance free of charge through the United States Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

The program runs through April 1 and benefits senior citizens, those with incomes below $54,000, people with disabilities, students, the military and those who speak English as a second language.

To schedule a VITA appointment, qualified individuals should call 610-282-1100, ext. 1868.

A DeSales student will return the phone call and provide assistance accordingly.

Individuals needing assistance should bring all printed tax information and all documents pertaining to federal, state and local taxes with them to their appointment.

All in-person appointments will be conducted with all COVID-19 precautions and visitors to the DeSales campus are required to be masked.

Since it was first offered, DeSales students have completed more than 5,700 tax returns for more than 2,600 Lehigh Valley taxpayers.

The program is sponsored by the IRS and supervised by Christopher Cocozza, C.P.A., J.D., LL.M., head of DeSales University’s Division of Business and professor of business.

Cocozza has served as VITA coordinator since the program was initiated at DeSales in 2001.