February 11, 2005: Volume 63, Number 6

Students lend a hand with tax filing

Ten students are offering free help to low-income Schenectady County residents who are filing tax returns.

The program, part of the  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), is coordinated by the IRS and the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). Schenectady is one of 27 counties across the state where free income tax preparation is being offered.

The Union students, who work out of the College's Kenney Community Center, completed a course in public finance and a four-hour, IRS-staffed training class certification test. They will receive course credit through the College's Economics Department.

Economics Professor Therese McCarty is coordinating the program. Presha Neidermeyer, a certified public accountant and accounting professor at the Graduate College of Union University, also is working with the students.

The Union students are Devon Bruce, Erica Chambers, Carrie Dancy, Adrienne Dodge, Joshua Holdreith, Michelle Lombard, Adam Pennacchio, Adrienne Ringer, Greg Shaffran and Ellen Spicer.

"This collaboration of government and the College enhances the opportunity for hard working men and women to take advantage of the availability of no cost income tax preparation and secure the value of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)," said Dennis Packard, commissioner of the county DSS. "DSS is excited to work with Union College and the other VITA sites around the county to make sure that this valuable tax incentive is fully realized for the residents of Schenectady County."

VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, and other convenient locations. Many sites, including Union's, offer free electronic filing, which means even faster receipt of refunds for those who qualify. The program is available for those with an annual household income of $36,000 or below. Referrals for the Union College program come mainly from the Schenectady County Department of Social Services and Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority.

A resident who had got help from Bruce said, "It's hard to find this sort of help, and for free. These kids are just great."

Another client who lives in Rotterdam said she paid more than $100 in past years to professional tax preparers who did the same job as the volunteers. "With this program, I get to keep the entire refund," she said.

Diane Blake, vice president for finance, is also volunteering in the VITA program, said: "The benefits to both the clients and our students are clearly visible when you see the program in action, she said."

Senior Adrienne Ringer, an economics major, said the program has given her a unique opportunity to "give back to the community." She added, "This is just so worthwhile and rewarding. I love seeing the looks on their faces when you tell them they will get a tax refund."

The service is offered Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. and Wednesdays from 12-2 p.m. through April 15. For more information or to make an appointment, call 388-6652. One of the student volunteers is fluent in Spanish for those who need language assistance.

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