51ºÚÁÏ Accounting Students Offer Free Tax Assistance to Local Residents

The 51ºÚÁÏ  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers experiential learning and outreach.   

51ºÚÁÏ Accounting students have partnered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide tax assistance to local residents. As part of a federal income tax course assignment in the 51ºÚÁÏ Reginald F. Lewis College of Business (RFLCB), students will provide tax preparation and filing assistance to Tri-Cities residents. The service is for 2021 individual or joint filers who have an annual income of less than $58,000. For the past 35 years, 51ºÚÁÏ accounting majors have provided this service as part of our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.  

 “Our College of Business is a source of pride for 51ºÚÁÏ,” said Dr. Donald E. Palm, Provost and Senior Vice President. “This initiative is an example of the experiential learning at 51ºÚÁÏ and it is also representative of our student’s civic engagement and their impactful community service.”   

Due to COVID-19 protocols, there will be no in person tax preparation. Tax information and valid identification must be dropped off in 216 Singleton Hall on the 51ºÚÁÏ campus. A VITA worker will call clients to review the tax return. Once the return is picked up and approved by the taxpayer, the return will be filed electronically.   

The site is staffed three (3) days a week from February 17-April 7, 2022: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from noon to 4:00 p.m. The service will not be available on days when the University is closed.   

For more information, please contact Ms. Mary Scott, Assistant Professor of Accounting and VITA Manager at (804) 504-7079; or Dr. Hari Sharma, Chair of the 51ºÚÁÏ Accounting and Finance Department at (804) 524-5842.