Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

What is VITA?

VITA is an IRS sponsored free tax preparation program for working families and individuals whose income is under $51000, but UNL does not base the need solely on the income amount but on whether or not the tax return is in the IRS specified scope. The premise behind VITA is to increase general financial literacy and education about taxes. The VITA program was created to help people gain more economic security through the earned income tax credit and tax credits.

Why do we do VITA?

UNL Tax Credit Campaign is an IRS approved VITA site. This year will the 8th year of preparing student and community returns. VITA has grown from a humble beginning of preparing 128 tax returns the first year (2006) to last years 1194 tax returns and $2.25 million in total refunds, $754,502 of which in EITC and $501,243 in child tax credit. UNL has consistently been one of the top two VITA sites in Lincoln. These programs assist with financial literacy and education and do outreach in the community. The economic security of the community member in Lincoln is a high priority and this program assists with that. The site would not be successful with out the support from our students, staff and faculty.

The UNL Tax Credit Campaign is recruiting students, faculty, and staff to assist in providing tax preparation for other students, faculty, staff, and community members. To serve, you do not have to be at every session or an entire session; you can sign up according to your availability at our training, which in January 11, 2014 from either 8 a.m. to 12p.m. or 1p.m to 5p.m. Anyone can be a VITA tax preparer; you do not need expertise in math or accounting. Each participant will need to be certified and will receive and official IRS VITA Certificate. Please sign up at engage.unl.edu/taxes by December 6th.

When is the site open?

January 18-February 23
Nebraska East Union, 3rd Floor Student Involvement

Monday-Wednesday, 5-8 pm
Saturday & Sunday, 1-5 pm
Saturdays in February, 10am-4pm

March 1- March 12
Nebraska Union, Colonial Room

Monday- Wednesday, 5-8 pm
Saturday & Sunday, 1-5 pm

The UNL Tax Credit Campaign is open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members, offering assistance with tax preparation and any other financial literacy questions.

If you have any questions and need further assistance, please contact Kyla by email at service-learning@unl.edu or call Center for Civic Engagement (402) 472-6150 or you could stop by our office 222 Nebraska Union.

More details at: http://go.unl.edu/0sy3