As the April 15 deadline for filing tax returns approaches, students in Econ. 235: Policy, Poverty, and Practice are devoting a few hours a week to preparing taxes through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $42,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. The Hamilton students became certified volunteer tax preparers through the IRS and will each spend 15 hours filing taxes at VITA sites such as the Resource Center for Independent Living and Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network in Utica, Harding Nursing Home in Waterville, and GPO Federal Credit Union in New Hartford.
The class, taught by Lecture in Economics Margaret Morgan-Davie, is comprised of more than 20 students from all class years. It includes economics majors and students who have never taken any economics courses. Class time has been devoted to learning about poverty-related issues in Oneida County and has featured guest lectures by faculty members of the economics department. Topics have included "Structure and Purpose of the Earned Income Tax Credit" by Professor Paul Hagstrom, "The ABCs of Public Expenditure Programs" by Professor Gary Wyckoff, and "Health and Socioeconomic Status" by Professor Steve Wu.
"Many of our clients say they would probably pay to have their taxes done if not for the VITA program, so it's great to know that we are saving people some money," said Molly Kane '09. "It has also been eye-opening to see all that goes into the process of filing taxes and learn about the programs that are in place to assist lower-income families."
In addition to the 15 hours of service, each student will write a reflection paper integrating their experiences volunteering with a topic discussed in class.
-- by Molly Kane '09
The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $42,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. The Hamilton students became certified volunteer tax preparers through the IRS and will each spend 15 hours filing taxes at VITA sites such as the Resource Center for Independent Living and Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network in Utica, Harding Nursing Home in Waterville, and GPO Federal Credit Union in New Hartford.
The class, taught by Lecture in Economics Margaret Morgan-Davie, is comprised of more than 20 students from all class years. It includes economics majors and students who have never taken any economics courses. Class time has been devoted to learning about poverty-related issues in Oneida County and has featured guest lectures by faculty members of the economics department. Topics have included "Structure and Purpose of the Earned Income Tax Credit" by Professor Paul Hagstrom, "The ABCs of Public Expenditure Programs" by Professor Gary Wyckoff, and "Health and Socioeconomic Status" by Professor Steve Wu.
"Many of our clients say they would probably pay to have their taxes done if not for the VITA program, so it's great to know that we are saving people some money," said Molly Kane '09. "It has also been eye-opening to see all that goes into the process of filing taxes and learn about the programs that are in place to assist lower-income families."
In addition to the 15 hours of service, each student will write a reflection paper integrating their experiences volunteering with a topic discussed in class.
-- by Molly Kane '09
