School of Business Students Offer Tax Prep Assistance

For the sixth year, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) team is offering free tax services to Ithaca College staff and faculty members. Supervised student volunteers from the School of Business will give advice and prepare returns for those who meet Internal Revenue Service income guidelines.

"In an effort to maximize government resources, increase productivity, and promote active community participation, VITA sites across the country have been asked to limit their services to low and moderate income taxpayers," says Alan Cohen, associate professor of accounting and director of the Ithaca VITA program. "In the past, our services were without regard to taxpayer gross income limitations and, as a result, our volunteers prepared many so-called 'high income' tax returns. Although very rewarding as on-the-job tax experience to our students, it is not in the true spirit of the new IRS directive."

The new gross income limitations for the VITA program are as follows:

VITA team members comprise senior accounting majors, each of whom has completed a federal income tax course that incorporates training materials provided by the IRS. Each student has also passed a required exam to earn VITA program certification.

For more information or to make an appointment contact the VITA program office at 274-3949 or acohen@ithaca.edu.