Linda Coburn and Freddy Hernandez
Want to get your taxes done? For free?
Business 10, a course that teaches the fundamentals of how to prepare state and federal personal income tax returns, offers tax services at no charge on campus through the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
The course is sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as well as the California Franchise Tax Board and provides the service to low-income taxpayers and seniors, according to professor Charlie Su, who is in charge of the program.
In order to be eligible, Su said a person has to have an annual income of less than $40,000. He added that most students usually qualify since they generally don’t make that much anyway.
David Braun, business administration department chair, said the tax forms themselves are handled by students enrolled in the class but are overseen by volunteers from the IRS and the tax board to make sure everything is filled out properly.
“Just bring in [your] W-2’s,” he said.
This year, for the first time, VITA will feature the option of filing the tax forms electronically via e-mail in addition to traditional post.
Su said the tax returns would arrive in about two weeks using the new method as opposed to the regular one which could take anywhere from six to eight weeks.
Student Samuel Okorie, 23, took advantage of the free service two years ago.
“It was easy,” he said, “but I only got $9 back.” He said he would use it again.
Anyone who meets the maximum income requirement, as well as seniors who wish to have their taxes done free of charge, can go to Room 3218 in the Business Education Building Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
The last day the service will be offered this year is April 15.
VITA is an award-winning program that has been in existence for roughly 30 years and has partnerships with not only Pierce but other campuses as well including CSUN.