Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program provides free tax preparation services to low-income taxpayers living and working in the Columbus metro area. In 2026, our Master of Accounting student volunteers completed 305 tax returns and helped Ohioans receive $544,291 in refunds!
The Fisher VITA site is closed for the year.
Fisher VITA will be open for the current tax season on Saturdays by appointment only: February 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, and March 6th. When it becomes available, you will be able to schedule your appointment at the United Way Tax Time website.
About the Program
General Information
VITA is a national operation, and most business schools operate a worksite every year. VITA has a national partnership, with various levels of cross-promotion and incentives for quality work by the student volunteers.
Community service of this type - highly visible, involving lower income citizens, capturing tax refunds for them that otherwise would be ignored or given to for-profit tax preparers - is an important function of the college and the university. It helps OSU students develop an appreciation for client service and interaction, build their resumes, and "give back" to the taxpayers who make the university available. And it can bring significant amounts of tax refund/credit money from Washington into the local economy. Read about our 2016 year in the Lantern here.
Professor Marissa Nelson, CPA, is the director of Fisher's VITA program at OSU.
The program operates a chapter of the IRS' Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. It also is a member of the Columbus Tax Time coalition, organized by the United Way Central Ohio, to aid citizens in obtaining the full amount of the credit as funded for them by Congress.
The program works with the United Way and HandsOn Central Ohio to provide appointments for low-income taxpayers as they prepare their federal and state income tax returns. It offers workstations where qualified taxpayers come to work with our volunteers to complete their tax forms and file them electronically.
Operational Support for the OSU Site
The VITA Program at OSU was supported in 2026 by 68 student volunteers from the MAcc program, the Accounting Honors program, and Alumni.
Support for the student volunteers - computer equipment, e-filing training, uniforms, and refreshments - are provided by the United Way, the IRS, Fisher College, and the AMIS department.
If you are interested in funding VITA programming, please reach out to the AMIS Program Coordinator, Angela Less, less.18@osu.edu .
FAQ's
For Students
At this time, we have limited capacity for volunteers and may not be able to accept you this year. Due to the increased volume of interest, please fill out the Qualtrics survey at the link below.
For the Public
Appointments can be made through United Way when it becomes available. Check their website for dates.
Parking is within a block of Mason Hall where we will hold our clinics
- Surface lot parking is available at St. John's Arena on the ice rink side for a small fee, pay by plate or by app.
- Lane Avenue garage is available, check the CampusParc website for hourly parking rates.
Informational Links
IRS VITA Site
What is the Earned Income Credit?