INFORMATION FOR
A group of 10 William Paterson University accounting majors and their professor are volunteering to prepare community members’ personal income tax returns through the federal Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
The VITA program, managed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for more than 50 years, offers free tax help to low- and moderate-income individuals. At William Paterson, the program also provides student-volunteers with career experience they cannot acquire in the classroom—managing real client issues and interactions.
The University has had accounting students and faculty in its Cotsakos College of Business dedicate their time and talent to VITA for decades.
“The VITA program is an amazing opportunity to not only prepare our students as professionals, but also to get them involved in the community by providing a valuable service to community members,” says Karen Beerbower, William Paterson University professor of accounting and director of this year’s VITA efforts on campus.
Anyone with an annual income of less than $70,000 is eligible to have their taxes completed by the University volunteers, except those who own a business as a sole proprietor. (Such individuals require a different income tax filing, the Schedule C /Form 1040).
WP student-volunteers, who completed extra training with Beerbower last month, will accept community members’ tax information through April 5. They will have income tax returns complete by April 10.
Eligible members from the public or the William Paterson community, including University students and employees, can bring their tax documentation to the VITA office at William Paterson University’s Cotsakos College of Business: 1600 Valley Road in Wayne; 4th floor, Room 4061. There is a secure lockbox for dropping off paperwork, as well as a required form to attach to your paperwork, on site.
Student-volunteers will call clients to let them know when returns are ready to be picked up.
