VITA program to offer free tax services to qualifying individuals

The Krannert School of Management alongside the United Way of Greater Lafayette will offer tax services to anyone with a household income of $66,000 or less per year — including domestic and international students and community members — to prepare and file their taxes for free. Krannert has also developed a website with resources to support international students.

The services are offered in conjunction with the United Way of Greater Lafayette through IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). The program is primarily staffed by student volunteers enrolled in a practicum course taught by Thomas Godwin, assistant professor of management and Purdue VITA site coordinator. All volunteers are IRS-certified.

“We are excited to continue providing free tax preparation for the community and Purdue staff and students,” Godwin says. “The VITA program yields invaluable learning for our students and helps over 1,500 people with their tax returns each year.”

Resources for community clients and domestic students can be found here.

Krannert students will be providing live help in the Krannert Building for international students from Feb. 17 to April 10. Applicable dates, times and room locations can be found online.

“While this program allows the community to alleviate the burdens of paying for tax return preparations, the community has equally provided me opportunities to grow,” says Shaurya (Ray) Chetal, Krannert graduate teaching assistant and Purdue VITA assistant site coordinator. “I chose to return this year because serving the community means a lot to me and seeing the impact this program makes on the community is very inspiring.”

Those using the in-person services need to bring a Social Security card or copy for themselves, a spouse and any dependents; photo ID; all tax documents; bank routing and account number for a direct deposit refund; and last year’s tax return, if applicable.

The local VITA program has prepared more than 11,000 tax returns since the program began in 2010. It has served 5,400 clients and brought more than $8.5 million in refunds back to Tippecanoe County. The program has grown to become among the largest in the state. In 2019, the local VITA program prepared over 2,500 tax returns resulting in almost $2 million in refunds.

Writer: Madison Sanneman, msannema@purdue.edu
Source: Thomas Godwin, rtg@purdue.edu