With the help of Ball State accounting students, many students, employees, and families of Ball State and Muncie Community Schools are receiving free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA is a federal program administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) available to individuals and married couples with an income of less than $56,000 per year.

“VITA has been a rewarding and humbling experience for me,” says accounting student Morgan Shields.

“Knowing how to answer tough tax questions when you’re face-to-face with the client has been one of the most valuable things I’ve learned. I have found efficient ways to research and become more knowledgeable about taxes overall. It is fun to be in a group setting with like-minded people while helping students and members of the community. I have enjoyed VITA and am thankful for the opportunity to work in this program.”

State and federal tax filings are prepared by Morgan and other Ball State accounting students who have completed the required hours of IRS-certified training and exams before becoming VITA volunteers. All tax filings are reviewed for accuracy by an experienced tax preparer, and returns will be filed electronically for faster processing. The student team is currently transitioning to virtual tax preparation with the blessing of both the IRS and the University.