Business Students Provide Three Ways to use Free Tax Service

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

KINGSVILLE (News Release) — Students from the College of Business Administration at Texas A&M University-Kingsville will offer free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Taxpayers may choose to go entirely virtual, use curbside drop-off or in-person preparation in room 107 of the university’s Business Administration Building. “We are still doing taxes 100 percent for free for taxpayers with under $66,000 household income,” Dr. Genevieve Scalan, associate professor in the accounting and finance department, said.

To arrange for virtual or drop off services, taxpayers can email VITA@tamuk.edu or come to Room 107 in the Business Administration building Mondays and Tuesdays between 4 and 7 p.m. beginning Monday, Feb. 6. The VITA office will be open every Monday and Tuesday until Tuesday, April 18. The VITA office will be closed during Spring Break, March 13 – March 17.

For virtual appointments, the taxpayer should send an email to VITA@tamuk.edu and they will receive a return email with the information the taxpayer will need to provide. Additional arrangements are then made for virtual return preparation and filing.

If a taxpayer prefers to drop-off information and return at a later time once the return is finalized, they should also email VITA@tamuk.edu to arrange a drop off time.

Taxpayers who want to come to the VITA office and provide information in person and leave with a filed return may come to the VITA office on Monday or Tuesday between 4 and 7 p.m. during the filing season. Taxpayers will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis, with drop-offs accepted for those who don’t want to wait.

Scalan said students can help with most personal income tax returns, including those for retirees or those with Earned Income and/or Child Credits. They also can help international students on an F1 Visa. The student preparers would also like to assist students who often don’t make enough to be required to file, but could get some of their withholding back if they do file. She encouraged students to check box 2 on their W-2 form and if there is an amount in it, they might be able to get a refund even if they are still dependents on their parents’ returns.