Certified-IRS volunteers at Tusculum College will be available to provide income tax assistance through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
The Tusculum College Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is an IRS grant program that offers free tax preparation to qualifying taxpayers in Greeneville and the Tri-Cities region. All volunteers for the program are trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service.
According to Dr. Harold Branstrator, associate professor of management at Tusculum College, although the program has been around for quite some time, this year marks the first year for the VITA program at Tusculum College. The Tusculum College VITA program is intended to assist a variety of taxpayers who need help in filing their own tax returns.
Person who qualify include those who generally earn less than $54,000 per year, persons with disabilities, limited English-speaking taxpayers and other urban and rural residents.
Participants in the program will be assisted by well-trained IRS-certified student volunteers.
Dr. Branstrator, a former IRS employee, oversees the VITA Program at Tusculum College. The program prepares students who are trained extensively and certified by the Internal Revenue Service to prepare returns for the citizens of Greeneville and the surrounding area. Additionally, said Dr. Branstrator, through the program, student volunteers learn valuable skills in tax preparation, professionalism and interviewing, while serving the community.