vita-volunteer income tax assistance

VITA-Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

2014 Tax Year

2015 Filing Season

Special Assistants

Sarah Mackey

Liaisons

AccountingValentina DAnna

LawZac Burley

Other

Volunteer RecruiterAgnes Wang

Site CoordinatorDr. Cathy Bowen

What is VITA• Nationwide program• Sponsored by IRS-Internal Revenue Service• Volunteers and community organizations• Started in 1969, first returns prepared in 1970 • Income eligible taxpayer

PSU-VITA Program• Started in 2004 tax year• Penn State Cooperative

Extension/College of Agricultural Sciences

• 2007 TY law students volunteered • 2009 TY accounting students volunteered• 2014 TY (2015 filing season) = 11th year

• Hand off to Sarah, Austin, and Valentina• (Zac---on a job interview)

Cooperative Program

Program Benefits• Taxpayer/Community

– Free return preparation– e-filing/faster refunds– Increased awareness of campus units and exposure to

positive models of Penn State students – Provide additional educational information

Program Benefits-2013 Impact

• MyFreeTaxes—returns completed with IRS free file program under special PSU link = 43 completed.

Item 2013 TY $ Impact

Volunteer hours 1,988@$22 $43,736

Taxpayer fees saved 701 returns @$152 $106,552

Total federal refund $806,955

State Refunds $43,946

Grand Total $1,001,189

Program Benefits• Volunteers

– Increase understanding of personal income taxes– Build your resume– Develop skills in working with others– Personal satisfaction of helping others– Miller Center Public Interest Advocate Certificate—

law students– Reference outside of your academic area– Camaraderie/Fun

Program Benefits-• University Recognition—Faces Campaign (2012 faces.psu.edu)

2013 TY--New Website!

Site---Ferguson Bldg. Room 10

Site Details

• Appointments Only Site• Tues. Wed. Thurs. 5-9 p.m.(advertise

5-8 p.m. last appt. is 7 p.m.)• Saturday 9-3 p.m. (last appt. 3 p.m.)• Open from Feb. 2 to April 11, 2015• Closed for Spring Break (March 8-14, 2015)

Volunteer Requirements• Volunteers must be certified by IRS• Link ’n Learn-on-line, self-study (federal)• In person supplement (federal and PA)• 3 hour shift commitment• Ability to be conversational, ask questions,

friendly personality• See Training Schedule. Please keep for

reference.

Study/Reference Materials• 4491 Training Guide• Test/Retest Booklet• Publication 17• 1040 Instruction Booklet• 4012—Key Reference at the site

Special Reminders• Do you have two e-mail accounts—please link them or

READ both daily so you do not miss messages about VITA.

• Special PA Tax Webinar—optional but suggested.– Tuesday, November 3, 2014, 1 to 4 p.m.– 211 Business Bldg. Come and go as your schedule

permits

Questions?