Accounting Students Provide Free Tax Preparation Services

Accounting

by Stephen Briggs

 
Accounting Student helping a community member with their taxes - 2018

SUMMARY: Members of JMU's School of Accounting partner with the IRS to provide free tax preparation to low- and middle-income members of the community.


For the 2018 tax season, 15 Master of Accounting students have pledged to work about 40 hours with the JMU Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), providing free-of-charge tax preparation services to individuals and families in the area with an income up to $60,000. 

As part of doing so, the graduate students will receive academic credit toward the requirements for a course in tax compliance. Also involved are 15 undergraduate students from Beta Alpha Psi, the international honors society for accounting, CIS and finance majors who serve as interviewers and greeters. 

“The VITA program is a highly visible effort that advances the university’s mission of community outreach and engagement,” says marketing professor Ron Cereola, who coordinates the program. “This year we are able to make a concerted effort to reach out to the Hispanic community thanks to 12 students from the Spanish language program who have volunteered their services as translators.” 

The initiative, held at Memorial Hall on South High Street between January 27 and April 14, is conducted on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The service also includes Spanish translators at every Friday session, and four of the Saturday sessions (2/3, 2/17, 3/3, and 3/24).

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Published: Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Last Updated: Thursday, November 2, 2023

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