Members of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) from the UAB School of Business Department of Accounting and Information Systems will offer free tax preparation services to qualifying members of the greater Birmingham community Feb. 20, March 6 and March 27, ahead of the Apr. 15 national tax filing deadline.

The UAB volunteer team will ready tax forms at six separate stations inside the university's Business and Engineering Complex at 1150 10th Ave. S., in the computer labs on the first floor. Interested parties are now asked to call 458-8970 to schedule an appointment time for one of the scheduled dates between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The UAB effort is part of the larger Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program that is sponsored locally by the United Way of Central Alabama and partners tax preparation volunteers with low income tax filers who make less than $49,000 annually. It comes as the country is slipping deeper into economic distress and when an accurate tax return could prove crucial for tax payers seeking refunds. But given the economic circumstances, many low income families do not have the money to pay for professional level tax-filing services. So students at UAB are stepping up to fill the void.