MCCC has partnered with the IRS to provide tax return assistance.
The college wants to help people with low to moderate income taxpayers, who generally earn $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and/or limited English speaking taxpayers, who need assistance preparing their own tax returns.
All services are free of charge to all who are eligible.
IRS-certified volunteers make the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program possible.
A number of MCCC students are providing their services.
Students Ian Lawson, Javed Peracha, Nathan Grodi, Ben Roelant, and Brendonn Acre are all IRS certified tax preparers.
The greeters are Amber Stroede, Joshua Ellis, and Alexandria Perna and Ben Kampraph is the assistant site coordinator.
Accounting professor Parnella Baul supervises the partnership.
“This the first VITA site at MCCC,” Grodi said. “They’re offering this opportunity because Ms. Baul cares about the accounting field. She wants her students to be able to progress here at MCCC.”
Walk-ins are accepted on a first come first serve basis and appointment lengths may vary depending on the taxpayer’s return, W-2’s, and exemptions.
“We have completed around three to four returns for students as well as one for a member of the community,” Grodi said.
VITA will be on campus from Feb. 10 to April 7 on Friday’s from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
They will be closed on March 3.
Anyone interested in utilizing VITA must first go to the website.
“You need all of the information listed on the VITA page,” Grodi said.
The VITA page and all information can be found on the college website at www.monroeccc.edu/taxassist/.
“I think it is a wonderful opportunity,” Grodi said. “It is a great resume builder and is good for student volunteers because it makes them able to prepare their own taxes as well as possibly assist others in the future.”