Through April 18, some students are offering free tax help for low-to-moderate income taxpayers.
The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program allows certified students and volunteers to provide free income tax preparation and assistance to eligible taxpayers.
According to Rebecca Thompson, a community impact manager for the United Way and a first-year VITA worker, the program requires students and community volunteers to have 12 to 24 hours of IRS training and to pass a beginning and intermediate IRS exam.
Last year, 1,048 people asked for free tax help. This year, VITA’s goal is to have more than 1,400 taxpayers receive help.
Thompson said there are 50 certified volunteers this year, predominantly from the UF Fisher School of Accounting.
Volunteers are usually expected to volunteer once a week for three to five hours. They must also sign confidentiality forms with the IRS to make sure the taxpayers’ information is secure and confidential.
Marlee Stark, a third-year accounting student at UF, has been volunteering with VITA for two months and said it required a good deal of time and effort to get certified.
Stark said the skills she acquired during her VITA training will be valuable in her future endeavors.
“Not only will this help with my accounting skills, but it is a way for me to give back,” Stark said.
Taxpayers who qualify for the free tax preparation must have an earned income of less than $49,000 a year.
There are 10 VITA sites for free tax help in Alachua County. Appointments are required.
“All of the taxpayers who come are very thankful that we volunteer our time to prepare their taxes at no cost and at a location convenient for them,” Stark said.
To see a list of the sites in Alachua County and surrounding counties, visit the VITA website at irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html.
