Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program!
Every year a group of MAcc students participate in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). This program helps lower and middle income residents of Columbus correctly file their income taxes. The program is available on Fridays (5-8) and Saturdays (10-2:30) throughout January and February. I know this doesn't sound like the most interesting or fun thing to do on your weekends but it actually is a very rewarding experience and we manage to have some fun!
I first volunteered when I was a sophomore at Ohio State through Beta Alpha Psi and now this year I am a Site Manager. Most volunteers work in pairs and one person prepares and then the other reviews it. This is what I initially did when I first volunteered and it is a great way to learn more about personal income taxes and learn a new software program (we use software from the IRS to prepare and file). Now, as a Site Manager, I am there to answer any questions that the students preparing and reviewing may have. This ranges from questions about tax issues, form abnormalities, or just general issues with the software. I have definitely become more confident in reviewing and answering questions after completing my first two VITA shifts, hopefully they continue to go well! If you are interested in learning more about the program, you can check it out here!