The Mustang

Issue date: 2/24/05 Section: Front Page

Media Credit: DeAnna Smith Senior Colton English, an accounting major, helps Patricia Armendariz, a junior, with her tax work. English is one of twenty students working with VITA. The program will run on campus until April 14.

WNMU students are once again volunteering their time to offer free tax preparation services to low income individuals in our community. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which was brought to WNMU by Accounting Professor Linda McGee, has been active on campus for more than 20 years. Within the past two years WNMU also partnered up with the Tax Help New Mexico program.

Accounting major, senior, Colton English, is one of 20 students helping with the VITA program this year. "Working with VITA has helped me learn more about Tax Wise which is a tax processing software," said English. "I also get to help a variety of students and meet new people from the community." English works six hours per work filing tax returns.

Junior, Patricia Armendariz, said the students who run VITA are friendly and very helpful. "I have come here for the past two years to have my taxes filed," said Armendariz. "More students should come and take advantage of their services, you don't have to leave campus and you are in and out in no time."

In 2004, WNMU students filed more than 1,000 tax returns (state and federal) and returned approximately $1 million to Grant County residents. Statewide in 2004, VITA assisted over 17,000 New Mexicans and refunded approximately $13.8 million.

"People are grateful because without this service some couldn't go to a paid provider to file their taxes," said VITA site coordinator and Business graduate student, Sidra Bueno. "It's a good feeling to be able to provide such a great service to our community."

The 20 students that are currently running the VITA program are also enrolled in the BSAD 437 "VITA" course. In combination with attending in-class lectures, the students involved with VITA will receive three credit hours. The business elective is only open to accounting and business management majors.

"VITA is a win-win program," said McGee. "The tax payers get a free service and our students learn something real." McGee also added that they couldn't put on this program without the assistance of other departments on campus, especially the Information Technology department.

VITA assistance can be found in the Phelps Dodge building in room 133. Taxes are prepared on a first come first serve basis. For more info. contact the department of Business Management and Criminal Justice at 538-6321.

VITA Hours are:
Mondays:8:30-11 AM, 1-6 PM
Wednesdays: 8:30-11 AM,
1-5 PM, & 5:30-8 PM
Thursdays: 5:30-8 PM
Fridays: 8:30-11:30 AM
Saturdays: 9:30-2:30 PM

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