By Riley Eike
Staff Writer
On Jan. 26, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program began helping members of the surrounding community with their taxes. The tax return season of 2015 marks the 12th season the VITA program has operated.
VITA allows anyone who qualifies to get their taxes done free of charge. They are able to help anyone who makes less than $50,000 per year, has a valid photo ID and a social security card. By donating this service, Bonaventure students are able to give back to the Olean community.
The VITA office is located at 807 W. State St., Olean.
As Jan. 20 marked the start to tax season, students from St. Bonaventure University donated their time to work at the front desk of the office and as tax preparers under the direction of Dr. Susan Anders, professor of accounting.
“Usually, junior or senior accounting majors run the tax returns, because they need to have taken the Accounting 404-01, Advanced Taxes,” sophomore accounting major and VITA volunteer Harley Winkleman said. “Those of us who haven’t taken the class work at the desk.”
There are two students at the front desk scheduling appointments while four students are preparers, per hour shift. The students schedule two tax returns per hour, Winkleman said.
Matthew Trifoso, a senior accounting major, has worked with the VITA program for three years.
“Officially my title is called ‘VITA Manager,’” Trifoso said. “I coordinate the front desk workers’ schedules, as well as give them the necessary ethics and standards training needed to work at the Front Desk.”
“We save roughly around $88,000 for the entire community, assuming that if we did not exist our clients went to Liberty Tax, a professional site right across from us,” Trifoso said.
Sophomore biology major Katherine Miller attests to the difficulty of tax season, especially because she does not live locally.
“I needed a lot of help when I tried to do my own taxes. I would use this service to alleviate my stress level during tax season, but they do not help people who don’t work/live in New York and Pennsylvania,” said Miller, who lives in Virginia.
According to Trifoso, last year’s refund total was high.
“We prepared 460 tax returns, resulting in refunds of $810,000 total for that year,” Trifoso said.
Anyone is able to sign up and donate his or her time to help with VITA as a front desk worker, answering phone calls and scheduling appointments, Winkleman said.
To volunteer or make an appointment, call (716) 373-2534.
“I enjoy working with the clients we get,” Trifoso said. “They are so nice and it’s great to talk to them and to help them get the maximum refund possible.”
