UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program successfully completed 821 federal income tax returns during the 2024 tax filing season.
VITA offers free tax help to people who generally make $60,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
The program provided significant cost savings to its clients. With the average cost to prepare and file a tax return estimated at $200, the program saved its clients more than $164,000 in tax preparation fees.
Penn State VITA completed 821 federal income tax returns, 93% of which had a Penn State affiliation, including students, student-athletes and employees. Of the 821 federal returns prepared, 442 were nonresident alien forms, showcasing the program's dedication to serving the diverse international community at Penn State.
The clients served by the VITA program represented citizens of 37 different countries and required state income tax filings in 28 different states, highlighting the program's extensive reach and ability to cater to a wide range of tax situations.
The program generated a total of $472,463 in refunds from 589 returns. Additionally, for returns with balances due, the total amount owed was $189,734 across 199 returns.
The success of the VITA program would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of its volunteers. A total of 2,270 volunteer hours were donated.
The Penn State VITA Program remains committed to providing free, high-quality tax assistance to the community and looks forward to continuing its mission in the years to come.
For more information about the Penn State VITA Program, email Edward R. Jenkins, professor of practice in accounting in the Penn State Smeal College of Business, at erj2@psu.edu.