Spring Break
Fraternity Offers Tax Help
Program To Help Students Prepare Returns
Alissa Letkowski
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: News
Filing taxes got a little easier for students, faculty, and staff because of a tax assistance program offered by the Beta Alpha Psi national honors accounting fraternity. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is sponsored by the IRS and is in it its first year of being completely student run.
"We welcome whoever walks in to get their tax returns prepared, gather their documents, any info, and then pass them on to the pledges who will prepare their tax return using the info they provided us with using IRS Software," said Melina Botcheva, a 6th-semester accounting major who was initiated into the fraternity on Tuesday with the other pledges.
Because of the software, the process has become much more efficient, according to Michael Redemske, professor of accounting and supervisor of VITA.
"Tax returns are filed electronically and taxpayers are able to have their refunds deposited directly in the bank account," Redemske said. "Both of these features accelerate the refund process."
The tax reviewers all have taken IRS-standardized training, have passed a test administered by the IRS and have taken accounting 260, which focuses on tax accounting.
"I think it is a wonderful program for our fraternity," said Steven Lanza, an 8th-semester accounting major and Vice President of Accounting in Beta Alpha Psi. "Instead of just the normal type of community services that we do, it allows us to use the accounting knowledge we have gotten in the classroom and put it to use before we get in to the actual professional setting. So, it is just as valuable to us as it is for the people we help."
Betty Bialik, a 6th-semester accounting major also thinks that VITA will be beneficial both to the fraternity and to the UConn community.
"Most people dread doing their taxes, so Beta Alpha Ps sees the tax program as a great way to help out the community while still gaining valuable experience in the profession," she said.
According to Lanza, last year's program assisted students, faculty and staff with nearly 100 tax returns and they plan to double the amount this year.
In order to take advantage of the program, one must be a part of the UConn community and must be a United States resident with an earned income only in Connecticut with an individual gross income under $20,000 or with a married combined gross income of less that $40,000. Beta Alpha Psi is unable to assist international students unless they have been here for more than five years and are able to file a resident income tax return. International students who are not able to participate in VITA can seek help at istaxes.com.
To make an appointment with a volunteer from Beta Alpha Psi for tax assistance, e-mail UconnVITA@gmail.com. Walk-ins are accepted at the scheduled times which include March 21, 28 and April 1 at Student Union room 319 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Contact Alissa Letkowski at Alissa.Letkowski@UConn.edu.
"We welcome whoever walks in to get their tax returns prepared, gather their documents, any info, and then pass them on to the pledges who will prepare their tax return using the info they provided us with using IRS Software," said Melina Botcheva, a 6th-semester accounting major who was initiated into the fraternity on Tuesday with the other pledges.
Because of the software, the process has become much more efficient, according to Michael Redemske, professor of accounting and supervisor of VITA.
"Tax returns are filed electronically and taxpayers are able to have their refunds deposited directly in the bank account," Redemske said. "Both of these features accelerate the refund process."
The tax reviewers all have taken IRS-standardized training, have passed a test administered by the IRS and have taken accounting 260, which focuses on tax accounting.
"I think it is a wonderful program for our fraternity," said Steven Lanza, an 8th-semester accounting major and Vice President of Accounting in Beta Alpha Psi. "Instead of just the normal type of community services that we do, it allows us to use the accounting knowledge we have gotten in the classroom and put it to use before we get in to the actual professional setting. So, it is just as valuable to us as it is for the people we help."
Betty Bialik, a 6th-semester accounting major also thinks that VITA will be beneficial both to the fraternity and to the UConn community.
"Most people dread doing their taxes, so Beta Alpha Ps sees the tax program as a great way to help out the community while still gaining valuable experience in the profession," she said.
According to Lanza, last year's program assisted students, faculty and staff with nearly 100 tax returns and they plan to double the amount this year.
In order to take advantage of the program, one must be a part of the UConn community and must be a United States resident with an earned income only in Connecticut with an individual gross income under $20,000 or with a married combined gross income of less that $40,000. Beta Alpha Psi is unable to assist international students unless they have been here for more than five years and are able to file a resident income tax return. International students who are not able to participate in VITA can seek help at istaxes.com.
To make an appointment with a volunteer from Beta Alpha Psi for tax assistance, e-mail UconnVITA@gmail.com. Walk-ins are accepted at the scheduled times which include March 21, 28 and April 1 at Student Union room 319 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Contact Alissa Letkowski at Alissa.Letkowski@UConn.edu.
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