IRS-Endorsed Tax Program Offering Free Service
The William P. Gordon Institute for Enterprise Development through the School of Business at Grace College and the United Way of Kosciusko County will partner again this year to host an IRS endorsed Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program in Kosciusko County during the months of February and March 2013.
VITA offers free tax assistance to qualifying taxpayers, usually of lower income, who require assistance in preparing their own tax returns. In order to provide this service, the William P. Gordon Institute and the United Way are seeking volunteers who are willing to help serve the Kosciusko community. Volunteers will undergo certification training, though professional tax preparers may opt out of training and complete a test online for certification.
VITA aims to help working families take advantage of all tax credits for which they are eligible, including earned income tax credit, child tax credits and education credits. This not only assists the individual family, but also increases tax dollars in the county.
William P. Gordon Institute’s VITA Representative Tim Ziebarth said the program is a synergistic opportunity for everyone in our community. “The Gordon Institute in collaboration with the United Way of Kosciusko County is excited to use VITA as a platform to serve the community. We hope to see Grace students, alumni, and community friends get involved in the VITA program. Volunteers will get a unique hands-on learning experience and the community recipients will benefit from free tax assistance,” he said.
Anyone interested in volunteering as a screener/greeter , tax preparer, or quality control position, or those interested in finding out more about how the VITA program might help them should contact Tim Ziebarth at [email protected] or by calling (574) 372-5100 ext. 6191.