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.

Tax preparation services are free for taxpayers with a household income under $66K.

To arrange for virtual or drop off services, taxpayers can email VITA@tamuk.edu or stop by Room 107 in the Business Administration building Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 3 and 6:30 p.m. beginning Tuesday, Feb. 6. The VITA office will be closed during Spring Break, March 11 – March 15. The office will close for the season Wednesday, April 10.

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 Tuesday or Wednesday between 3 and 6:30 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.

Dr. Genevieve Scalan, associate professor in the accounting and finance department, 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 earn enough income 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.

The VITA program has received grants from the Internal Revenue Service for the past three years. This year, the program received a $12,500 grant.

“The grants we receive for VITA help us serve the Kingsville community beyond campus because we use the funds to pay for student interns.” Scalan said. “The ability to use students as paid interns benefits the community because it allows us to have staff available to prepare taxes at specific hours without having to rely on volunteers who may have other activities.

“This has made it possible for us to partner with Kingsville Housing Authority (KHA) to go on site to help KHA residents get their taxes prepared for free. The internships benefit the students as well. Not only do they get a well-paid on-campus job; but they also gain accounting and customer service skills that can use in future careers,” she added.