Description of VITA
In 2019 I founded the Trinity VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) tax clinic, a unique community learning program in which students become IRS-certified tax preparers and provide free tax preparation for Hartford residents. This program is strong and growing, now attached to an Experiential Certificate in the Trinity Plus curriculum. Students from multiple departments have succeeded in the course, including many Public Policy and Law students who have taken the course to fulfill their internship requirement. Over the past five years, we have prepared over 1,800 tax returns for Hartford-area residents, enabling clients to receive needed tax refunds without paying for-profit preparers. Tax preparation capacity at the clinic continues to grow, and there is potential to expand into a year-round resource providing assistance on FAFSA applications, accessing student loan forgiveness, and potentially growing to connect to assistance with consumer or other legal needs. Learn more about the VITA program at Trinity here.