School of Business Again Offers Free Tax Preparation Program

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, a free tax service that includes preparation and advice, is available to Ithaca College staff and faculty, regardless of income, through March 31. This is the program’s fourth consecutive year at the College. All expenses for the program are paid by the School of Business.

The Ithaca College VITA team is composed of senior accounting majors. Each has completed a senior-level federal income tax course that incorporates training materials provided by the Internal Revenue Service. Each student volunteer has also passed the required exam and is certified by the program. The team is supervised by Alan Cohen, associate professor of accounting and the VITA site coordinator.

"The main objective of the VITA team is to provide each taxpayer with the highest-quality tax return," Cohen says. "Upon completion of the return, each taxpayer will be asked to participate in an exit interview. At that time the taxpayer will receive a final copy of his or her 2000 tax return, which, in most cases, will be electronically filed."

Demand for this service is high. It may require three to four weeks to process tax returns, due to a reduced number of student volunteers and the possible increase in the number of VITA clients.

For an appointment, contact VITA at 274-3661 or e-mail vita@ithaca.edu.