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Law Student Division

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program

A Message for the VITA National Student Director

Economic stimulus calculator-- http://www.irs.gov/app/espc/

Dear VITA Volunteers:

The Tax Section of the American Bar Association created the Low Income Taxpayers Committee. The Committee's purpose is to assist low income taxpayers and provide tax counseling for the elderly, among other things. The Committee, in association with the American Bar Association - Law Student Division, adopted the Internal Revenue Service's VITA program.

The ABA Law Student Division's VITA program is an independent operation from the IRS. However, the IRS will be providing training materials, forms and technical assistance prior to and during the 2008 tax season. The IRS can provide VITA training for law students, alumni, professors and other volunteers with no tax preparation experience or even those with experience. The training consists of learning how to prepare the following schedules:

  • 1040
  • 1040A
  • 1040EZ federal tax returns, and
  • Related schedules

The predominant focus for tax preparation will be the 1040EZ & the 1040A returns, since these are the forms predominantly used by the typical VITA clientele.

Additionally, training will be provided on calculating and preparing the following forms:

  • EIC - Earned Income Credit,
  • Lifetime Learning Credit,
  • Hope Credit, and
  • Student loan interest deductions.

It is very common that many of the tax returns prepared will be those of your fellow students, their family members, undergraduate students of affiliated campuses or persons referred to the VITA site by a student. 

  • Designate a contact person or VITA Director.
  • SBAs, their presidents and ABA School Representatives are responsible for designating a VITA contact person at their campus and reporting the appointees name and contact information to the Law Student Division before December 15, 2006.
  • Provide a list of prospective volunteers for the spring 2008 semester.
  • Volunteers will need about 10 hours or more of advance training. Training normally takes place in late January or early to mid February, so you can't wait too long! The IRS has VITA Taxpayer Education Coordinators available, usually by late October or early November, but in some locations not until December.
  • Report your activities to the ABA are critical so we know what schools are participating and the IRS needs to know whom to contact for scheduling the training.
  • It is highly recommended that you get one or more tax professors and/or business/tax clubs or organizations involved and committed to this program. It is the general consensus of past volunteers (including myself) that the VITA program would have difficulty getting off the ground at most campuses without the participation of one or more professors and a tax or business club. The success of this program depends upon students, faculty and the administration working together to provide this free service to members of the community.
  • Read the VITA Assistance Program Handbook.

Keep in mind that VITA works best when it is mapped out in the fall semester and executed accordingly in the spring.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Ann Duong
National Student Director – VITA
Vermont Law School
aduong@vermontlaw.edu

2009 VITA Participating Schools

Veteran Sites
  • Barry University School of Law
  • Northern Illinois University College of Law
  • Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson School of Law
  • State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law
  • University of St. Thomas School of Law (MN)
  • University of Idaho College of Law
  • University of North Dakota School of Law

Rookie Sites

  • George Washington University School of Law
  • Suffolk University Law School
  • University of Iowa College of Law
  • Vermont Law School

Ask Ann

Have a question about the VITA program or how your law school can participate, Ann Duong, VITA National Student Director, is here to assist.
 
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Registration and Reporting

VITA Site Registration:
Don't forget to submit your ABA-approved law school's VITA Registration Form for the 2009 tax season and become an official participant of the ABA Law Student Division VITA program. Completed Registration Forms for 2009 VITA sites are due December 15, 2008.

2009 VITA Site Reporting:
Reports are due on the 15th of each month beginning the first of the year: January 15; February 15; and March 15. The final report is due May 1. Electronic reporting forms will be posted online beginning in December.

Link me to the VITA interim reporting form

National Student Director

Ann Duong
Vermont Law School
aduong@vermontlaw.edu

Tax Wise Software and Training

Taxwise Training: Click Here

Electronic filing: This is the preferred method of filing for the IRS. Training is generally completed in one 6 to 8 hour session. It is also possible to have a few representatives from the school, typically the student director and supervisors, attend a training session with the IRS. Those who attend the IRS training may then train the remaining 10 volunteers. This option makes it easier to arrange training sessions around class schedules.

TaxWise (software) Training: Contact your Territory Manager to find out about local requirements. To sign-up for the TaxWise online training, click here. If you have used TaxWise software before, a refresher course should take less than 2 hours.

Territory Manager depends on the area: Click Here

VITA Handbook and Award

Download your free copy of the VITA Handbook today. Available in PDF format.

Be sure to Nominate your law school's VITA program for the 2009 Law Student Division VITA Award for Rookie or Continuing site. Deadline for receipt of nominations: April 1, 2009. Tell me about the VITA Award.

VITA Discussion Group

Make sure you stay in the loop. Subscribe to the Law Student Division's VITA List Serve (electronic discussion group) which puts you in touch with other VITA organizers across the country. Subscribe/Unsubscribe

Helpful Links

FROM THE IRS

TRAINING

FORMS

ELECTRONIC FILING

GUIDES

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