Sessions for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) will begin next Friday, Feb. 23 through the University accounting department.
VITA is a free income tax preparation service for moderate-income taxpayers, senior citizens, Murray State students, faculty and staff, according to vita.murraystate.edu.
Tori Hoffman, an assistant professor in the department of accounting, teaches tax courses and Principles of Accounting at the University. She also manages the VITA program for the accounting department.
“This program is a community service program that benefits lower income individuals in the community by allowing them a place to come receive accurate tax preparation services without placing a cost burden on them,” Hoffman said.
The University also partners with the Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC) office of the IRS to provide the service.
Hoffman said the program will allow members of the community to bring identification and tax documents to the sessions in order to have their tax returns prepared.
She said many students have volunteered their time to work the sessions and assist individuals seeking tax return support.
“This service is important because it offers our students the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom in a real-world setting, solidifying their understanding of the material and helping boost their confidence,” she said. “It also helps to build community among the students and the MSU community by means of community outreach and service.”
Hoffman said the accounting department has offered the VITA service since at least 2001, and during the 2022 program, records show that 148 federal tax returns were e-filed along with 150 state tax returns.
“Based on these numbers, it would appear that our program has been widely used by the community in the past,” she said.
Hoffman said the main goal for the VITA sessions is to provide the community with accurate tax preparation, as well as instill a new sense of confidence in the quality of education accounting students are receiving.
“We also hope that our students receive benefits from participation such as real-world application and tax preparation experience, client interaction experience, community service experience and an enhancement of interpersonal skills,” she said. “All in all, we are hoping that our students walk away more prepared to enter the workforce.”
Community members seeking assistance can expect to receive validated parking upon arrival and will be asked to register for the session. After filling out paperwork, each individual’s unique tax situation will be discussed with the tax preparer, and the return process will begin.
The returns will be reviewed multiple times to ensure accuracy, and finally the preparer will discuss the document with the community member. Once the individual has approved the return, it will be e-filed.
In order to receive assistance, community members must present a government-issued identification, Social Security card (for themselves or any dependents), all current year tax documentation such as W-2s or 1099s and, ideally, a copy of their 2023 tax return.
More information can be found at either the Murray State University VITA website or the VITA specific website.
Hoffman said all individuals seeking assistance are encouraged to review the websites before attending sessions in order to gain an understanding of all documentation required, as well as what to expect at the program.
“This site provides all of the dates and times we are open to the public,” she said. “It also contains our contact information for those who have additional questions.”
VITA has provided assistance for international and foreign exchange student returns in the past, but those services will not be provided this year.
Students seeking those services are also encouraged to visit the websites to receive more information on other VITA programs that are available to assist them.
