Students feeling taxed about filing their returns can turn to UF for help.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, known as VITA, is offering free tax preparation on campus until April 15. The program is funded by an Internal Revenue Service grant awarded to the United Way of North Central Florida.
“So many places pop up around tax season that offer predatory services,” said Jennifer Stojkovic, the program’s community impact manager. “If you do your taxes with us, it is completely free and completely safe.”
All help is provided by student volunteers.
Joshua Giancarlo, a 27-year-old third-year UF law student and a VITA site coordinator, said more than 50 law students are volunteering this year. The training required by the program helps volunteers do their own taxes.
“That’s something that they’ll know forever,” he said.
Marilyn George, a 21-year-old UF accounting senior, said she thinks the program is helpful for students.
“People pay a lot of money to file their taxes, but as students, we don’t have money to pay for these services,” she said.
The program is also available to international students. Levin College of Law, which has partnered with VITA since 2010, completed 197 international tax returns last year.
“International students get their returns and don’t know where to go,” Stojkovic said. “That’s why we’re here to help.”
[A version of this story ran on page 4 on 3/20/2014 under the headline "UF law students can help solve Gators’ #TaxProblems for free"]
