News Releases

More than 300 students and community members have sought tax assistance from KU’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program this year. The VITA Program prepares returns for taxpayers who are Kansas, Missouri or Illinois residents making less than $39,000 per year with no itemized deductions.

Not only does the program assist taxpayers, it also provides experience for School of Business students who plan to work in this field.

“The VITA Program is important because it provides hands-on experience for students interested in tax, whether it is Masters of Accounting students or law students interested in tax law,” Courtney Sipe, VITA coordinator and former MAcc student, said. “It also provides an opportunity for low income residents of the community to receive free tax assistance.”

Volunteers spend three days a week at Green Hall, the on-campus VITA site, and off-campus at other VITA sites throughout Lawrence. The program runs each year from mid-February until April 15.

“Volunteers are mostly law students but many years we have had Business students involved with the program,” Sipe said. “The most rewarding part is seeing the impact the program has on the Lawrence community. The program has clients who come to get their taxes done through our VITA Program every year. Also, we have many students in the KU community who take advantage of the program. I think it takes some stress off of them to know they don't have to worry about trying to do their own taxes.”

A Business student was chosen to lead the VITA Program for the first time in 2008, helping the Law School provide free e-filing for students, low income and elderly taxpayers. “We provided a free service for students and low income families that they otherwise would have had to pay for,” Jerrod Commerford, former VITA Program leader, said. “Everyone who came in was very appreciative of what we did for them.”

The volunteer recruitment process begins each January. Business students interested in volunteering next year can e-mail the VITA Program (vita@ku.edu) to express their interest in volunteering.