[Natfinwellness] VITA Site Set-Up

[Goebel, Paul]

UNT was a collegiate partner with our local VITA Program for several years. Serving as a site host is pretty much a turnkey experience.

What's required?
A secured room with WIFI accessibility. With the tax returns being completed electronically we did not have to provide printer access. In addition, we were asked to manage a RSVP system for the appointments, while promoting the program via campus email and our social media. We would provide the onsite VITA coordinator with the RSVP list. They also offered walk-in assistance with preference given to those with reservations. Volunteers were provided with free on-campus parking.

What have been your challenges?
Inability of the program to serve international students. Limited number of volunteers (we averaged 2/event).

What have been the successes?
The program was a in-win for students and our center. Providing students with access to free income tax filing assistance was an early success point for our center. Our town-gown collaboration was applauded by senior administration.

Anything else?
We limited on-campus appointments to students only due to restrictive on-campus parking. We averaged about 50 students being served through the program each Spring. We typically had 1-2 VITA volunteers on-campus 2-3 times during the early Spring semester. As more free online tax filing assistance resources have become available the interest from students in an on-campus partnership has waned significantly. We still promote the VITA Program available in the community the week following the release of W-2's by the university. We have reached out to other community-based tax preparing service providers when they are offering their service for preparing 1040EZ return free or at a reduced fee to students.

P-

PAUL F GOEBEL, CPFM
Director
UNT Student Money Management Center
940.369.7761 | Chestnut Hall 313


From: Natfinwellness [mailto:natfinwellness-bounces at lists.osu.edu] On Behalf Of Pellegrini, Andrea
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2016 12:38 PM
To: National Financial Wellness Listserv <natfinwellness at lists.osu.edu>
Cc: Bauer, Charlotte D <bauersmi at illinois.edu>
Subject: [Natfinwellness] VITA Site Set-Up

Hello all!

I may have asked this last year, but it came up in a meeting again today...

What has been your experience(s) with VITA tax prep sites at a college or university?
What's required?
What have been your challenges?
What have been the successes?
And anything else you can provide!

Sincerest of thanks in advance!

Best,
Andrea

Andrea Pellegrini, Assistant Director

USFSCO - Providing Solutions
Student Money Management Center
P: 217.333.6228<tel:217.333.6228>
apelleg3 at uillinois.edu<mailto:apelleg3 at uillinois.edu>


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