Volunteer Tax Assistance II

Catalog description

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is experiential learning, educating students along a variety of dimensions while strengthening Duquesne?s connection with the community. Students will work with real-world clients to complete their annual income tax returns. This process exposes students to federal, state, and local filing requirements for individuals and families. The VITA program is part of the Pittsburgh Area VITA Coalition, under the umbrella of the United Way and governed by the Internal Revenue Service. Therefore, all students are required to satisfy VITA training and minimum testing requirements as detailed below. Because VITA is limited to those individuals with income falling below certain annual limits, this course will develop students understanding of tax issues particularly applicable to low- and middle-income households, including government assistance and refundable credits. This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of fundamental individual income tax issues. Because this is the second VITA course, students will also gain an understanding of more advanced taxation issues. The training and experience will develop students? understanding of the tax system and how to evaluate individuals? respective situations so as to recommend the best course of action. Working with actual clients will help to develop students? communication and organization skills. Because all returns must be prepared using software and filed electronically, the course also develops students? computer/technical skills. Because students work in VITA centers with prescheduled client appointments, students learn the importance of timeliness, teamwork, and respecting commitments.