California State University, Bakersfield will soon be offering free tax preparation services to students, staff and the broader community.
Every Saturday from Feb. 26 through March 26, trained accounting student volunteers who have passed Internal Revenue Service certification tests will be available to prepare income tax returns as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
The program had been set to start on Feb. 6 but was delayed due to CSUB starting the first couple weeks of the semester virtually.
The goal of the VITA program is to help low-income families receive the help they need to complete their tax returns.
“Without these free services, many low-income families would have to pay a fee for professional service,” said Dr. Benjamin Bae, director and site coordinator of the program. “The VITA program is very beneficial, not only to the community members who will take advantage of this service but also for the accounting students. Through providing these services, they learn the tax laws and build experience that is going to make them more marketable when they apply for a job.”
Due to COVID-19, student volunteers will not be meeting clients face-to-face. Instead, taxpayers can drop off their W-2 and other tax forms in a secured dropbox inside the Business Development Center anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Participants will need to make an appointment to drop off their documents and fill out required forms by calling 661-654-3098. If a client has a question or more information is required, a VITA receptionist will talk to them by phone or in person behind a protective plexiglass barrier.
Recent CSUB graduate Ivan De Anda will be one of the volunteers who will be processing tax returns. This will be his second time participating in the VITA program, having volunteered in 2020 while he was still a student.
“I wanted to get some experience doing tax returns and thought it would be something good to put on my resume,” he said. “At the beginning it was a bit nerve-wracking, but after doing a few returns and getting more familiar with the forms, it got a little easier.”
Now, having participated in the program once before, he feels he is well-prepared to help again this year.
“I’m feeling good about doing it second time. I think I know more than I did the first time,” he said.
De Anda said the program is a great opportunity for community members and CSUB accounting students alike.
“It’s a great program,” he said. “I feel it’s a great way to help students gain experience with the tax preparation part of accounting. I would recommend it to anyone looking to get some hands-on experience.”
For more information about the VITA program, visit csub.edu/vita.
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