CANTON -- Students and faculty from SUNY Canton's Accounting and Business programs are partnering with AARP Tax-Aide, the Potsdam Neighborhood Center, and SeaComm Federal Credit Union to offer free tax assistance at locations around the North Country.

The college's program is overseen by Accounting Professor Ran Li and Legal Studies Professor Jondavid S. DeLong, who are committed to helping individuals and families file their 2017 tax returns. This is the first year that the college has joined with outside agencies in an effort to offer the valuable assistance to a broader audience.

For more than 13 years, the VITA program at SUNY Canton has allowed students to help individuals correctly prepare their taxes while under the supervision of tax certified professionals.

At SUNY Canton, the free tax assistance will be available by appointment between Feb. 3 and April 17 in SUNY Canton's Accounting, Business and Finance Center in Cook Hall Room 100. The free service is offered to SUNY Canton students and income-qualified community members.

The College's Financial Literacy Center and the School of Business and Liberal Arts sponsors the free tax preparation program with community partners as a service to those who cannot afford to visit an accountant or who are unable to prepare their taxes on their own.

For more information visit SUNY Canton's VITA Webpage. To schedule an appointment at SUNY Canton, contact the School of Business and Liberal Arts by phone at (315) 386-7328.

AARP Tax-Aide and other VITA sites are being run by the AARP Foundation, the Potsdam Neighborhood Center and SeaComm Federal Credit Union at locations throughout the area, including:

Assistance from AARP Tax-Aide will be available in Canton, Massena, Potsdam and Ogdensburg. For more information, contact Sheryl Campbell at 315-212-0450.

SeaComm Federal Credit Union will be providing tax help on Saturdays by appointment in Canton, Malone, Massena, Ogdensburg, Plattsburgh and Potsdam. Contact Jerry Manor 315-764-0566, ext. 546, for scheduling information.

Appointments through the Potsdam Neighborhood Center at 2 Park Street can be made by contacting Kristal Hayes 315-265-3920 or Nicole Duve 315-569-2634.