Filers Flock to Cobb Student Tax Program

COBB COUNTY, Ga. (MyFOX ATLANTA) - The tax deadline loomed Tuesday and many tax payers were left in the mad scramble to find receipts and paperwork. In one Atlanta suburb, the deadline meant a trip to high school for some late filers.

"I've seen people come in with nothing, and try to file their taxes. I've seen people come in with boxes, just random boxes. I've seen trash bags," said student tax preparer Jodel Deshommes.

Deshommes is a senior at Oakwood High School, an alternative high school in Cobb County. The senior is a part of a program that teaches students how to prepare tax returns for low to moderate income filers.

"They are properly trained and they have prepared and they have taken the test and they know how to do the returns," said business teacher Michael Devault.

The students spend a month learning tax law and studying the 1040 tax form line by line. Each student must also pass the IRS tax preparer test before helping people file their taxes. The returns are completed online and then a teacher checks each return for errors.

"I've always done my own. Never had a reason [not] to, I've always done a simple form," said client James Brown.

Brown used the service for the first time and was pleased with the students' work.

"I love it. It's good for people, I'd recommend it to anybody," said Brown.

The program has been up and running for seven years and it has successfully served over 1,100 people.

"I've not known of any of our clients that have been audited in the past," said Devault.

The program aims at teaching more than just how to file tax returns, it also teaches them life skills and how to interact with clients.

"The only thing I don't do here is tell people they owe money. I always let Mr. Devault do that," said Deshommes.