Elon University undergraduate students are taking part for the first time this winter in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program to assist eligible community members with preparing their tax returns.
By Melina Casados ’18
Elon University undergraduate students will assist qualifying local residents with their taxes this winter as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, which allows eligible taxpayers to receive free tax-return services from IRS-certified volunteers.
It marks the first time Elon University undergraduate students will take part in the program in Alamance County. Elon University School of Law School students had volunteered with the VITA program in Greensboro for several years before partnering with AARP Foundation Tax-Aide.
Approximately 30 undergraduate students, predominately business majors, are eligible to prepare tax returns starting Feb. 6, 2016. Elon students must undergo intense training before passing a series of tests to become IRS-certified. Volunteers will participate in VITA on Saturdays at the Downtown Center for Community Engagement (217 E. Davis Street, Burlington).
Services provided include preparing and then e-filing federal and North Carolina state returns. To learn more about VITA and eligibility to receive free tax-return services, visit https://uwalamance.org/our-work/programs-services.
VITA was introduced to Elon’s main campus after Professor Susan Anderson and members of Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting and finance professional society, met with IRS representatives. Anderson is hopeful that the program will help continue to strengthen the connection between Elon and the Burlington community.
“With Elon’s emphasis on service-learning, I hope this will evolve into a prominent program,” Anderson said. “I think the students will benefit from learning more about the community as well as the tax law.”