Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program sets new record

(Broken Arrow, Okla.)-- The Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow campus community and members of its surrounding communities had the option of obtaining free tax preparation through an NSU partnership with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program during the spring of 2015.

VITA has been offered at NSU since 1980, and this year, the program completed a record number of tax returns. Up 24 percent from last year, for the 2015 tax season, VITA volunteers were able to complete 574 returns.

This year VITAs volunteer team consisted of 27 individuals; 25 current NSU students and two NSU alumni. To be eligible tovolunteer, an income tax accounting class must be completed with a B or better grade, as well as thesuccessful completion of an IRS certification tax accounting test.

The first appointments available began in mid-January; however, by early March all appointments were booked through April 15. Many of the student volunteers elected to give up their Spring Break to offer additional appointments to community members. This was an idea that Dr. Justin Halpern, professor of accounting and VITA organizer, hoped would be an end result, and that the students would carry on after graduation.

"Through this program we were able to help community members save hundreds of dollars," Halpern said. "The whole idea I wanted to instill with these students is to understand that they're helping the community. I wanted to emphasize that this is an important part of having a relationship with the community."

Halpern also explained that many local accounting firms see this experience as a huge plus on a resume. This year especially, student volunteers had a steep learning curve, becoming knowledgeabl every quickly in areas dealing with the Affordable Care Act. This wasthe first year that the ACA affected peoples taxes, so many of the community members who brought in their taxes resulted in firsts for the students.

Although there were six sites in the region participating in the VITA program, NSUBA saw 45.7 percent of all taxes prepared. To accommodate this anticipated demand for tax slots, this year NSUs VITA program added a Saturday morning block of appointments in addition toSaturdayafternoons, and Monday and Thursdayevenings. Halpern said individuals from as far as Bartlesville and Sand Springs came to NSUBA to have their taxes prepared, sometimes passing up closer sites offering VITA services.

"An important part of NSU's mission is to provide service to local and professional communities.The VITA program is an integral part of the College of Business & Technology's strategy to contribute to this mission. I am grateful to Dr. Halpern and Mr. McDaniel and their students for all the hard work they put into the program.It is a valuable part of our service and outreach," Dr. Roger Collier, Dean and Professor of Finance at NSU said.

For more information about VITA, please contact Dr. Justin Halpern at halpernj@nsuok.edu or 918-449-6526.