April 22, 2002
Contact: Robert Lowery (509-963-1487/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail loweryr@cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - A total of 143 area taxpayers have Central Washington University students to thank for making sure their tax returns were ready for the April 15 filing.
CWU College of Business (COB) accounting majors helped those taxpayers through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In all, 21 CWU students and four coordinators were involved with VITA.
“This is a great learning and service opportunity as well as a source of pride for the COB,” Dr. Roy Savoian, dean of the College of Business, says. “(Accounting) Professor Fred McDonald supervised our students and deserves special commendation for the time and effort he devoted to the program.”
The program, which has been in existence for 32 years, offers free income tax preparation help to disabled, elderly and low-income taxpayers who cannot afford those types of services. It is not designed to compete with for-profit tax preparation agencies or accountants.
VITA also allowed the Central accounting students to get some “real world” experience.
