Tax preparation makes an impact
Final tabulations on the number of people Widener Law students, alumni, faculty and staff assisted with pro bono tax preparation this year are in, and the results are impressive.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, overseen by Associate Professor Michael J. Hussey, served 243 clients preparing federal, state and local 2014 tax returns. Clients who were seen through the law school received federal refunds totaling about $358,000.
Hussey said the volunteer service saved those clients roughly $60,000 to $73,000 in preparer fees, at a rate of $250 to $300 a return.
“This is a tremendous public service,” Hussey said. “The clients we see qualify because they are income-eligible, so it means a great deal to them to obtain this service at no cost. It’s an excellent way for the law school to give back to the community and our students who volunteer get an opportunity to build client-relations skills.”
The program covers three counties and is coordinated by the Money in Your Pocket campaign, a coalition of social service agencies, financial institutions and Widener Law. Overall, with Widener Law’s contributions, the VITA program prepared returns for about 5,200 clients and generated more than $5.2 million in federal refunds.
Five student volunteers took part at the law school, along with eight alumni volunteers and seven community volunteers who connected with Widener Law through the United Way. Appointments were done on Saturdays during tax season. The students completed an intensive Internal Revenue Service certification before volunteering.
Hussey said Widener Law staff and faculty also supported the effort, with everything from appointment scheduling assistance to technical support. The school hosted a statewide Pennsylvania tax law training in November attended by about 90 people and live-streamed to 95 sites in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, California, Washington, Washington D.C. and Ontario, Canada.