Friday, January 25, 2019

The University of North Carolina Wilmington will offer free tax e-filing assistance to eligible taxpayers through the university’s IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). Taxpayers with an income of $66,000 or less are eligible for this assistance. All VITA volunteers are IRS-certified UNCW students majoring in accounting.

This service is sponsored annually by the UNCW Department of Accountancy and Business Law and Beta Alpha Psi, an honorary organization for financial information students and professionals. UNCW’s VITA program fulfills a present need in the community while offering students a chance to gain experience and a better understanding of current tax law.

“All of our students have to pass exams with the IRS,” said Victoria Hansen Ph.D., C.P.A., an associate professor with the Cameron School of Business. “They must already have IRS training before they can help.”

UNCW’s VITA program practices facilitated self assistance (FSA), a method where taxpayers prepare their own taxes and the volunteers answer questions and offer assistance when needed. The typical timeframe for taxpayers to complete their tax preparation can range anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

According to Hansen, the VITA program originated at California State University and has since spread nationwide. The service that students provide to members of the surrounding community creates a valuable campus/community connection.

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (803-G S. College Road) will be open on the following Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for taxpayers to receive assistance:

• February 9
• February 23
• March 2
• March 23
• March 30
• April 13

Taxpayers can also visit 813 Nixon Street on the following Wednesdays between 5 and 8 p.m.

• February 13
• February 27
• March 6
• March 27
• April 3

More information, including a list of items needed upon arrival, can be found on UNCW’s VITA webpage or by contacting Victoria Hansen at hansenv@uncw.edu or 910.962.2776.

-- Tyler Anne Whichard ’19