With the assistance of Chilton + Medley Certified Public Accountants and local accounting students, the Louisville Asset Building Coalition was able to significantly increase the number of low-income taxpayers it helped file taxes in 2008. The coalition, which offers a free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, also helped increase the amount of tax refunds paid by the state and federal government to individuals in Louisville. Preliminary number showed that 7,146 taxpayers received assistance this year, compared with 5,031 in 2007. And the amount of refunds to individuals helped by the organization totaled $7.96 million, up from $6.3 million in 2007. Eric Seto, executive director of the Louisville Asset Building Coalition, credited Louisville CPA firm Chilton & Medley with helping it recruit student preparers during this tax season, allowing the nonprofit organization to help more individuals file tax returns.
Chilton & Medley sponsored a Collegiate Challenge to gain participation from students at the University of Louisville and Bellarmine University. Representatives from the firm made a presentation at each school, challenging students to volunteer for the program. At Bellarmine, 48 of 50 accounting students signed up on the spot, Seto said. The U of L Accounting Club also immediately committed to the program. "We were looking for some way to get private business involved," Seto said in the release, "but we couldn't realistically expect an accounting firm to do it themselves during their busiest time of the year. "I knew if the city's largest accounting firm got behind the program, that would generate a lot of interest on campus."
Business First of Louisville
