Since 1989, Salisbury State University (SSU) has been participating in the VITA (Volunteers in Tax Assistance) program. While this is a national program, SSU’s Perdue School of Business has been particularly successful in its involvement of the students and the community in the program, which offers free tax assistance to the public. Directed by a member of the accounting faculty, the VITA program at SSU has collaborated closely with the local Department of Social Services and with the Internal Revenue Service in assuring that tax preparation services are available to those in need. Services are provided at IRS locations. The VITA program is run as a business and includes not only students who will assist in preparing taxes but those who market the program and are responsible for its implementation.
Since 1989, Salisbury State University students have provided in excess of 14,000 volunteer hours on 5122 taxpayer contracts. In 1999 alone, students completed over 2000 volunteer hours on 531 taxpayer contracts. Students prepare multiple tax returns, answer a variety of taxpayer questions and do quality reviews of returns brought in for filing. They interact regularly with IRS professionals, must deal with a varied clientele including individuals of all racial, ethnic, economic and educational backgrounds. They must exhibit excellent communication skills and must be focused and able to listen attentively. Students must also maintain professional decorum at all times and their demeanor and attitudes must reflect positively on the IRS and on Salisbury State University.
This year, the IRS hosted an appreciation reception for the 21 Perdue School Accounting majors who completed 2030 hours of service to their community. Each student received a “”Spirit of America”" certificate and a personal letter from a representative of the IRS district office. The outstanding contribution VITA students make to the community should not go unacknowledged. While somewhat different than the traditional examples of good citizenship often heralded, this program meets and even surpasses the ideals of civic engagement.
Perdue School of Business, Dep’t of Accounting and Legal Studies: http://www.salisbury.edu/schools/Perdue/AcctLegal/
