Everyone around the country struggles with managing their taxes. No matter the age, filing taxes can be very confusing. Being unfamiliar with tax preparation is entirely okay as well. A tax preparation may include a credit check, a tax compliance check, a criminal background check, and a check for non-prior non-compliance with IRS e-file requirements.
However, tax preparations are beneficial as you are given the correct information to file your taxes correctly.
If you are in need of help, then look no further than your very own accessible free tax preparation at Mercy University. Every Friday, the Bronx campus will be available from 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. While every Saturday moving forward in Dobbs Ferry will be available during 9:30 a.m. — 3:30 p.m. Also, on Sundays moving forward, tax preparation will be available during 9:30 a.m. — 1:30 p.m.
Go to Victory Hall Room 100 for your tax preparation at the Dobbs Ferry campus. At the Bronx campus, go to room 1344 for your tax preparation.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant program offers free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals and has existed for 50 years.
Prof. Denise Stefano, one of the leaders of this free tax preparation, shares what the program is about.
“The VITA Program started about ten years ago here. It is a national federal program that provides free tax preparation to low-income households, and there are certain thresholds of revenue you have to have to come to a site and get your taxes done free.”
Stefano proceeded to expand about the free tax preparation program.
“Mercy just happens to have a site here in Dobbs Ferry and the Bronx. We train students and get them certified in early January. We run a two-day training program to certify them as IRS tax preparers under the VITA program. The students prepare the taxes at the sites supervised by the facility and other experienced site supervisors.”
Stefano shed more light on the students’ experience during this program.
“Students are getting a great learning experience, getting community service in, seeing real clients and meeting with clients. So, from a student perspective not only is it helping to build a lot of soft skills in tax prep, it also gives them a good launch into other careers as well.”
Stefano continued to explain more about the VITA program and how it helps.
“From the perspective of a student and Mercy, it is a great community program because we don’t just prepare the tax returns for only Mercy students. We prepare for anyone just in the public who qualifies.”
Stefano continued to share more insight on their success and why it is important.
“We have completed 75 tax returns, which is a great community service activity. The students get a world of skills that help launch careers, so it has a world of benefit for Mercy University.”
Stefano shared what the future of this program may look like.
“We are looking to develop an open elective course here at Mercy. Where students get trained in VITA, along with being certified.”
Stefano shared her hopes for the program.
“Part of the course work would be like an unpaid voluntary internship within sites and we will open the course up to anyone who would want to take the course. We think getting a course would engage more students as well.”
With the help of students and Stefano more people will be able to prepare their taxes moving forward properly. If you are in help or curious about the program contact [email protected] for more information.
