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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (Jan. 21, 2014) — Milligan College’s VITA tax preparation program, offering free, IRS-certified return preparation, begins its 2014 tax prep season on Feb. 3.
This year, the program’s sixth, features a new online registration option and a new major sponsor, Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union (ACFCU), which will be a host site for return preparation on Tuesday nights. Online registration, testimonials and more information is available now at vita.milligan.edu.
Led by Milligan professor Dr. Harold Branstrator, the IRS VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program offers a free alternative that provides the same fast refunds as paid preparers do. In 2013, volunteers completed 505 returns, saving clients more than $125,000 compared to if they had used fee-based services and producing more than $600,000 in refunds. This year’s program features seven sites, with services offered Mondays through Thursdays and Saturday mornings (see schedule below).
Taxpayers eligible for VITA services include: people with annual incomes of less than $50,000; anyone with a physical disability; non English-speaking citizens; and people older than 55. In addition to electronic filing for quick deposit of returns, VITA preparers can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as earned income tax credit, child tax credit and credit for the elderly or the disabled.
“We see this as a ministry to low and moderate-income taxpayers,” Branstrator said. “Our volunteers (mostly Milligan students) are competent, courteous and respectful and we have a near-zero error rate, much lower than the average for paid preparers.
“I believe this approach is what has caused our rapid growth, which includes many repeat customers,” Branstrator added. “The fact that we’re saving the average client a couple hundred dollars or more certainly plays a role as well ― people like to keep their own money.”
Under the supervision of Branstrator, a former IRS employee, returns are prepared by Milligan students who have completed VITA’s standard three-week certification process, leaving them prepared at the high level expected by the IRS.
Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer said the VITA program has become a highly effective example of the college’s strong emphasis on servant leadership.
“VITA is a practical, hands-on way for our students to make a positive difference in the community,” Greer said. “It’s been inspiring to see so many students grow to share Dr. Branstrator’s passion for helping taxpayers. This program’s growing popularity with clients and host sites shows there has been a great unmet need out there for this type of service.”
ACFCU CEO Ron Scott said joining forces with Milligan was a no-brainer after he learned about the school’s VITA program.
“Offering a program that provides a much-needed service, one that utilizes college students for them to obtain real-world experience, and having the integrity of having an outstanding education institution such as Milligan seemed like an amazing opportunity to help our community get access to an outstanding service,” Scott said.
Branstrator said the program also has helped students, particularly those in business-related fields of study, put classroom skills into practice.
Sites and days of operation (beginning Feb. 3 and running through mid-April) include:
- Mondays:
- Johnson City Housing Authority Carver Office, 500 Washington Ave., 9 a.m.-noon.
- Eastern Eight Community Development Corp., 214 E. Watauga Ave., 5-9 p.m.
- Tuesdays:
- Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union, 5034 Bobby Hicks Highway Suite 2, 5-9 p.m.
- Wednesdays:
- Catholic Charities, 323 W. Walnut St., 9 a.m.-noon
- Milligan College, Derthick Hall Room 109, 5-9 p.m.
- Thursdays:
- Elizabethton Public Library, 201 N. Sycamore St., Elizabethton, 4-8 p.m.
- Saturdays:
- Grandview Christian Church, 300 University Parkway, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
VITA also will offer two free tax preparation days at ACFCU locations in Norton, Va., and Berea, Ky. Appointments for the following ACFCU branches must be made via phone by calling 800.378.3778.
- Saturday, March 1: ACFCU, 1400 Park Ave., NW, Norton, Va., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Saturday, March 8: ACFCU, 104 Pasco St., Berea, Ky., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
To schedule an appointment for all other locations, visit http://vita.milligan.edu, or call 423.461.8700, 773.6438 or 928.7866 (Grandview Christian only).