Tax season is upon us, and students from Virginia State University are putting their education to good use for their community. Accounting majors at VSU are working with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide income taxes and filing assistance for 2020 tax returns.
The service is especially helpful because low-income filers are often susceptible to scams, surprise and/or excessive fees, and fraud. As a result, the VSU students are providing a safe and trustworthy way to file taxes in their community. The service is available to individual and joint parties filing within the Tri-Cities area. They just must have an income below $58,000. Read more about the program from VSU’s release below!
For the past 34 years, VSU accounting majors have provided this service, which is coordinated by Prof. Mary Scott, CPA, CFE, Assistant Professor of Accounting at VSU; and Dr. Hari Sharma, Chairman of the Accounting and Finance Department in the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business. The students’ participation is among the requirements of the federal income tax course.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site will accept tax information in 102 Singleton Hall, on the campus of Virginia State University and is being staffed three (3) days a week, beginning on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. The days and times are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from noon to 7:00 p.m. through April 8, 2021. The service will not be available on March 2nd and March 24th due to no classes at the University.
Those desiring help in preparing and filing their tax returns should bring with them all essential records – W2 forms, SSA – 1099, if appropriate, etc. Due to COVID-19, tax information and valid identification will be dropped-off and taxes will be picked-up after completion. A VITA worker will call those utilizing the VITA services to review the tax return. Once return is picked up and approved by the taxpayer, the return will be filed electronically. IRS E-File for individuals is the easy alternative to filing paper returns.
