For the second year in a row, students at Mitchell Technical College will make income tax filing simpler for individuals who qualify for a special program offered through a federal grant program. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offers free tax help to people who made under $60,000 last year and taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.
“This is a great opportunity for our Accounting students to learn real-life skills while giving back to the community,” Instructor Annika Russell-Manke said. Because of working with VITA, “our students walk out with certification from the IRS and experiences to back them up.” Established over 50 years ago, VITA is managed by the Internal Revenue Service, with sites operated nationwide by IRS partners and staffed by volunteers who want to make a difference in their communities.
Mitchell Tech’s accounting students have been certified to provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
VITA services are not only free – they are also a reliable and trusted source for preparing tax returns. All VITA volunteers who prepare returns must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards. This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information. In addition to requiring volunteers to certify their
knowledge of the tax laws, the IRS requires a quality review check for every return prepared at a VITA/TCE site prior to filing. Each filing season, tens of thousands of dedicated VITA/TCE volunteers prepare millions of federal and state returns. They also assist taxpayers with the preparation of thousands of Facilitated Self-Assistance returns