By Kaitlin Merkel
Murphy News Service
Many University of Minnesota students balance the stress of classes, jobs and social lives besides having to worry about filing their tax returns by the April 15 deadline.
As Tax Day approaches, the Volunteer Tax Assistance Program (VTAP) at the University of Minnesota aims to relieve this stress by providing free tax services to students and community members.
Facilitated by the Carlson School of Management, VTAP is staffed by about 80 student volunteers, many of who are finance or accounting majors at the U of M, said Shannon McGinnis, a director of VTAP.
VTAP can file taxes for people, such as U students, with gross incomes of less than $57,000 annually free of charge. Nonresidents filing taxes, such as international students, are also eligible for the service.
In 2014, VTAP filed 1,153 tax returns, including about 80 nonresident returns, said McGinnis. She estimated the program is on track to file 1,300 returns in 2015, a new record high.
The primary focus of VTAP is on providing students a free tax service because of its on-campus location, and graduate students make up the biggest client demographic, according to a VTAP video.
Besides serving and saving students and community members money, McGinnis said the program has a “good model” that allows the student volunteers to gain technical and communication skills, and learn how to work in client services.
“Recruiters love to see [the real-world experience],” McGinnis said.
The program started in 2006 and is supported nationally by the Internal Revenue Service, and locally by the Minnesota Student Association and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly.
VTAP works to accommodate walk-ins, but prefers scheduled appointments, said McGinnis. To schedule appointments, visit the VTAP website.
If VTAP is unable to provide services because of complex tax-related issues, McGinnis said staff members can refer clients to outside help.
VTAP is located in 2-180 Hanson Hall on the U of M’s West Bank and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. VTAP offices will be closed the week of the U of M’s spring break, March 14-22, and will resume normal hours after.
Reporter Kaitlin Merkel is studying journalism and Spanish at the University of Minnesota.