GCC and A New Leaf decided to offer an income tax assistance service called VITA (The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), which will be held in the B building in room 106 on Tuesdays: 10 A. M – 1 p.m. This will be a good service for those who are having trouble with their income taxes because it’s a free service, although held pretty early, it will still be worth considering going to since it’s free. The service lasts from February to April 9th, 2024. The only con to this service however, is that it’s a first come, first serve basis, meaning you have to quick. The service lasts for three months though, so if you’re worried about the time, just remember that it will last from February to April 9th.
The requirements for who are able to go and who’s not is pretty clear, anyone who is a child or an additional cannot go. So as long as you’re not either one of those things, you are free to go. Whether you are old, or fresh out of high school living at your own place, the B building in room 106 will allow you to go.
There are three tax preparation options. The first option is the traditional return preparation method, which you have to do these three things. Bring all your required documents to a VITA site location, which basically you will bring the documents to the B building in room 106. Fill out the required paperwork and sign consent forms, the consent forms here being the 7216 consent form. Have your taxes prepared the same day while you wait, basically meaning that when you’re at the site, you need to have your taxes with you. The most important rule for the traditional method since if you don’t bring it, you can’t really get helped.
The second option is the drop-off service. So what you’ll want to do is to bring all your required documents the B building in room 106. Next, fill out the required paperwork and sign the consent forms, again the consent form is the 7216 consent form. Finally, you drop off your documents after a short interview with a volunteer. If you want to know what documents you’re exactly supposed to bring, you can visit this website: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jANzWBSxmTFzdM7HvbJO7cVNYgDsHI8W/view.
The third option is to do it from home. Now, the ways you can do it from home (or anywhere with an online connection) is you go to a specific URL available only at/from VITA sites or email vitaanl20@gmail.com. Then you can set up an online account and E-File your Federal & State returns yourself for free. Which will be to your leisure. Whether you want to do it during your breaks from your shift, or if you’re to busy with your kids to actually go in person. This option is available for you.
“When was this established?” This was said after I asked a random student on campus if he was even aware of the program. I then asked if he would consider going to it, “Yeah, I would if it wasn’t held so early. I’ll just do it online.” I asked another student who happened to be walking by if they even knew how to do their taxes, “Not really. To be honest I don’t know that much.” Which then I recommended her program. I then asked does the time put them off, “No not really. I’m an early bird, so I can handle doing stuff in the morning.” I also asked what exactly she liked about the program that made her consider going, “The fact that it helps me understand taxes better and that it’s free.” Makes sense, everyone likes free.
“When was this established?” This was said after I asked a random student on campus if he was even aware of the program. I then asked if he would consider going to it, “Yeah, I would if it wasn’t held so early. I’ll just do it online.” I asked another student who happened to be walking by if they even knew how to do their taxes, “Not really. To be honest I don’t know that much.” Which then I recommended her program. I then asked does the time put them off, “No not really. I’m an early bird, so I can handle doing stuff in the morning.” I also asked what exactly she liked about the program that made her consider going, “The fact that it helps me understand taxes better and that it’s free.” Makes sense, everyone likes free.
This is such a helpful service for students! It can be hard to be aware of all the available resources our colleges offer because they’re not talked about, or students have little time to hear about them. This is sad since so many programs are made to make our lives easier and smoother.
I also like that there is flexibility in using the service, as you can go in person, drop off your information to be filled out, or do it online. While getting help from someone in person about taxes would be nice, it can also take much work to arrive at the set times. I live a fair bit away from campus, so coming that early after a long drive can be out of my way. Using their online option may be more accessible and less time-consuming than arriving in person.
The sentiments made by the other students interviewed in the articles are relatable. The first guy mentioned that the early times also put him off, so he would do the service online. I might have also considered taking the trip if it had not been so early. The other student was interested in the events because she stated she did not know much about filing taxes. I feel the same way and see how this service could be helpful to several young adults at GCC.
Het Tristan, your blogpost about the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) service offered by GCC and A New Leaf is incredibly helpful and informative. As someone who is always looking for ways to save money and better understand taxes, I found this information to be particularly valuable. Firstly, I appreciate the clarity in explaining the service’s location, schedule, and eligibility requirements. It’s reassuring to know that regardless of age or living situation, anyone can take advantage of this free service.
The three tax preparation options provided – traditional, drop-off, and online – cater to different preferences and schedules, which is fantastic. It’s great to have flexibility in how we choose to file our taxes, whether it’s in person, through drop-off, or from the comfort of our own homes. I found the feedback from the random students you interviewed to be quite insightful. It’s understandable that some may prefer the convenience of online filing, while others appreciate the opportunity to learn more about taxes and take advantage of the free assistance provided. Overall, this VITA service seems like a fantastic resource for students and community members alike. I commend GCC and A New Leaf for offering such a valuable service and making it accessible to everyone. I’ll definitely be considering utilizing this service to better understand my taxes and ensure accuracy in my filings. Thank you for sharing this information!