Two Kansas University groups are offering free tax preparation services this season for those who qualify, KU announced this week.

KU Law students with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will prepare returns for taxpayers who are residents of Kansas, Missouri or Illinois; who earn less than $54,000 per household per year; and who do not itemize their deductions.

In-person VITA sessions — first-come, first-served — are scheduled several days a week from Feb. 17 through April 18. For a complete list of times and locations, go online to law.ku.edu/vita. For more information call 864-9227.

The other group, Legal Services for Students (LSS) is offering free tax assistance to any U.S. resident taxpayers whose income was $62,000 or less in 2015. International students and staff at KU may also prepare their taxes using free software with no income limit.

Taxpayers qualifying for LSS assistance may prepare and electronically file their federal and state tax returns online via legalservices.ku.edu.

This year taxes are due on Monday, April 18, instead of Friday, April 15, because of the federal observance of Emancipation Day.