Caption: VITA volunteers and business students Daisy Zhao and Anthony Kress helped prepare tax forms for low-income families and individuals during 2009. Photo by Kelly Lacefield
Serving Low-Income Families and Individuals
Business Students Offer Tax Assistance to Gain Experience, Help Others
Feb. 15, 2011 :: No. 80
What:
Cal State Fullerton students are offering income tax return preparation and filing assistance. More than 100 students and alumni — all certified — take part in Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, an IRS-sponsored community program that helps low-income families and individuals prepare federal and state returns.
When/Where:
- 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays in Langsdorf Hall, Room 404, through April 7
- Noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays in Langsdorf Hall, Room 403B, through April 2
Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, 92831
Who:
Michelle Kim of Yorba Linda, junior business administration-accounting and finance major, and Eliseo Cabrera of Los Angeles, junior business administration-economics and finance major, are the student coordinators of the effort, under the guidance of Kathleen K. Wright, professor of accounting, certified public accountant and attorney.
Clients:
For those seeking services, annual incomes can be no greater than $40,000 for single filers, $45,000 for a family of three, or $50,000 for a family of four or more.
Applicants must bring:
- valid photo I.D. and Social Security cards, birth dates for taxpayer, spouse, dependents
- wage and earnings statements and financial statements applicable to a personal tax return
- records of any payments to daycare and provider’s I.D. number
- last year’s income tax returns, plus bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
Additional:
Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and clients must arrive at Room 203A of Langsdorf Hall at least one hour before closing time.
Parking:
$8 Mondays and Thursdays, Saturdays free.
http://parking.fullerton.edu/Parking/ParkAndPay.aspx
Info:
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center at 657-278-8681 or by e-mail: csufvita@gmail.com
Media Contacts:
Kathleen K. Wright, Accounting, 657-278-7029 or kwright@fullerton.edu
Pamela McLaren, Public Affairs, 657-278-4852 or pmclaren@fullerton.edu
Caption: Members of this year’s VITA coordinator team.
A friend told Kim, who is studying accounting and finance, about the program when she joined the volunteer team last year. “I was very interested in learning more, and the good thing is that this program is an opportunity for me to apply what I have learned. I also learned about interacting with people, management and organization.”
“It keeps us busy. Last year, we had at least 300 clients that we helped,” Cabrera noted. Kim estimates that each return typically takes about 30 to 45 minutes, but some can take up to two hours, depending on the needs of the families and individuals who come to them.