VITA Tax Preparation Program

Our Accounting students, under the supervision of Dr. T. Jean Engebretson, are once again offering the popular IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) tax preparation services in Fairmont, Clarksburg, Parsons, Mannington, and other areas.  The mission of the VITA Program is to provide free basic tax return preparation for eligible taxpayers.  VITA provides students with hands-on learning of income tax preparation and it provides real life interaction with tax clients.

The student volunteers are the program’s most valuable resource.  To establish the greatest degree of public trust, the student volunteers have a responsibility to provide high quality service and uphold the highest of ethical standards.  The student volunteers receive training and certification from the IRS to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the Fairmont State service area.  Many taxpayers return each year and they also refer their friends and neighbors to the Fairmont State VITA program.

The Fairmont State VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, and other convenient locations.  The service includes free electronic filing.  The complete 2011 VITA schedule is available at http://www.fairmontstate.edu/schoolofbusiness/node/84/view.  

Last year students in the Fairmont State VITA program worked over 720 hours preparing 678 federal and state tax returns.  According to Dean Harvey, “this is the single, most productive community outreach service of the Fairmont State University School of Business.  The students work tirelessly and produce great results in a short time period.  Their level of expertise and professionalism is routinely praised by the participants.  The goodwill generated for the School of Business is immeasurable.”

About the photo: VITA students help the local community through free tax preparation.

School of BusinessT. Jean EngebretsonVITA Tax PreparationAccounting