Free income tax assistance for 400
on Saturdays, Jan. 31-April 4
Cal State L.A students trained to help community,
committed to legacy of error-free tax returns
Los Angeles, CA –
Starting Saturday, Jan. 31, the Cal State L.A. VITA (Volunteer Income
Tax Assistance) Program will offer free income-tax preparation
services for low- to moderate-income individuals ($42,000 or less)
who cannot prepare their own tax returns.
Since 1998, the Internal Revenue Service and Cal State L.A. faculty
have trained Cal State L.A. students to make a difference in their
communities as part of the VITA program, providing an excellent
service-learning opportunity for the final-year accounting students.
On Saturdays, from
Jan. 31 through April 4,
VITA services for the 2009 tax season will take place on the third floor
of Salazar Hall, room 363. It will operate on a first-come,
first-served basis from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appointments are not
necessary.
According to David Hossain, VITA site coordinator and assistant
professor of accounting, “This year our goal is to reach the 400/400
mark; 400 tax returns with $400k of much needed tax refunds to taxpayers
living in our surrounding communities.”
Last season Cal State L.A.’s VITA Program–with 42 student
volunteers—helped to complete 266 tax returns, drawing in total refunds
of $216,496 and total earned income credit refund amounts of $70,651. On
average, each participating student volunteered about 50 hours to
prepare tax returns.
Hossain said, “Throughout VITA’s existence at CSULA there have never
been any returns rejected by the IRS. Therefore, the service provides a
viable alternative to other tax-preparation services where costs can
range anywhere from $100 to $150 per return. It is a service that is
free and has a history of no errors.”
In addition, with an average refund of $1,000, VITA can be a good sign
in these times of financial stress. For example, parents with two
dependents may get back as much as $6,000.
Shannon Gonzales, student tax expert, said, “Not only do we have the
opportunity to help out the community and student body in this time of
economic need, but with such thorough guidance and training from CSULA
and IRS professionals, we are guaranteed to keep the CSULA VITA legacy
of ‘zero mistakes’ alive and well.”
Nataly Madrigal, VITA site manager, said, “The service and history of
accuracy of the VITA program can also be attributed to the dedication
exhibited by a select core of VITA personnel. The student volunteers
are required to pass a demanding comprehensive examination and attend a
rigorous training program on the latest in tax preparation software.
Some of the students are members of CSULA Beta Alpha Psi, Accounting
Society, Toast Masters, and ALPFA (Association of Latinos Professionals
in Finance and Accounting).”
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Working for California since 1947: The 175-acre hilltop campus of California State University, Los Angeles is at the heart of a major metropolitan city, just five miles from Los Angeles’ civic and cultural center. More than 20,000 students and 205,000 alumni—with a wide variety of interests, ages and backgrounds—reflect the city’s dynamic mix of populations. Six colleges offer nationally recognized science, arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education and humanities programs, among others, led by an award-winning faculty. Cal State L.A. is home to the critically-acclaimed Luckman Jazz Orchestra and to a unique university center for gifted students as young as 12.
Programs that provide exciting enrichment opportunities to students and community include an NEH- and Rockefeller-supported humanities center; a NASA-funded center for space research; and a growing forensic science program, housed in the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center. www.calstatela.edu
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