Eastern Michigan University students can receive help filing their taxes with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program at five events scheduled over the next two months.
The VITA program provides free tax return preparation as long as students have the proper paperwork. The events are being hosted by EMU’s Beta Alpha Psi–Accounting Club, and will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the EMU College of Business on March 16, 23 and 30. All three dates are Saturdays.
“Our VITA program services anybody who earns less than $51,000 a year,” said Beta Alpha Psi member Evan Scarbrough. “Over half of our clients are people from the Ypsilanti community, however, the number of student returns we prepare is growing this year.”
EMU’s Student Government will be assisting the Beta Alpha Psi–Accounting Club at the two additional events held in the Student Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 6 and 13. Both of those days are also Saturdays.
“We hope to help a lot of students at the Student Center on those Saturdays because it is within walking distance of all the dorms,” Scarbrough said.
Anyone interested in using VITA needs only to show up at the event with their paperwork.
People interested in filing their tax return with VITA should bring a picture ID, their Social Security card, any wage or earnings statements, their school expenses form and a copy of last year’s return, if they have one.
“We serve people on a first-come, first-serve basis, and usually get to everybody within 20 minutes,” Scarbrough said.
Scarbrough said he expects the number of people using VITA to increase this year.
“Last year the VITA program was able to generate 91 individual returns, a record number for our organization,” he said. “This year we have expanded VITA and expect to prepare well over 100 people’s returns.”
The VITA program is one of the largest events hosted by a student organization during the winter semester.
“Beta Alpha Psi and Accounting Club has coordinated VITA for many years now, and it generates more community service hours than all the other service events combined during the winter semester,” Scarbrough said.
Go to www.emich.edu/studentorgs/bap/vita.html for more information.
