Story: Phillip Tutor
Accounting majors are working with federal program through April 14
For two decades, accounting students at the baby直播 have participated in a federal program that assists low-income and disabled workers file their tax returns.
The , or VITA, is free for eligible taxpayers and doesn鈥檛 pay UWA鈥檚 students for their work. But the experience the students receive is invaluable, said Sharon Stipe, chair of the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, as is the furthering of university鈥檚 outreach in western baby直播 and eastern Mississippi.
鈥淭hat’s what makes it such a great program, because it allows us to give the students that real-world experience, and it is pretty real world,鈥� Stipe said. 鈥淚 have students who call me when they graduate, and they’re like, 鈥極h, that’s the best thing you could have done for me, because that made me realize that I had to work.鈥欌��
Started nationally more than 50 decades ago, VITA is designed for people who make $58,000 a year or less; who have disabilities; or who have limited English-speaking skills. VITA volunteers can help taxpayers file both their federal and state returns.
The VITA program at UWA is open through April 14, with students providing assistance on three days each week: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Taxpayers should schedule an appointment (call (205) 652-3846 or email [email protected]) and bring their tax documents, driver鈥檚 license and Social Security card.
鈥淭hat’s what makes it such a great program, because it allows us to give the students that real-world experience, and it is pretty real world.鈥�
Sharon Stipe
UWA鈥檚 VITA students are enrolled in an accounting practicum course in which they are graded on more than the tax returns they file, Stipe said. Because they are working with people in the community, students are graded on how well they communicate with clients, punctuality on workdays, professionalism and their ability to learn and use the required software.
Three students are enrolled in this spring鈥檚 accounting practicum, with as many as 300 clients shared equally among them. Historically, not all of the UWA accounting students who assist VITA clients want to become tax preparers after graduation, Stipe said.
鈥淪ome of them go to work for the state,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey go to work for the Department of Public Examiners. Some of them go to work as controllers, and they will become controllers for businesses. We have some with the criminal division of the IRS. We have CPAs. We have people who are in the Department of Revenue. We have people who are in all divisions.
鈥淚t’s about preparing them for life, for their career. And that’s sort of what this course is. But it is a way for them to understand that they have a responsibility to give back.鈥�
