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VITA
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
The SMU Dedman School of Law’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
program helps individuals in the Dallas community prepare tax return
information on computers and transmit them electronically to the IRS.
SMU law students help to prepare basic income tax returns free
of charge at IRS/VITA sites for individuals of low to moderate
income, individuals with disabilities, non-English speaking taxpayers and the
elderly.
Confirmation Agreement for VITA – due by January 18, 2008
VITA Site List - 2008
Mandatory VITA Training – January 19, 2008
Schedule Requests
Confirmed Dates/Times
Logistics of the program are as follows:
- All SMU law student participants attend a
Mandatory VITA Training session on Saturday, January 19th, 9 am to 4pm in the
Walsh Classroom - Underwood Law Library. ***Note this is NOT an
optional training session; you receive credit hours for attendance.***
- Each SMU law student plans his/her own attendance schedule
choosing a recommended site from the
VITA Site List.
To request a specific date/time, please use the
online Schedule Requests link before the VITA program
begins (Jan 26, 2008 - Apr 12, 2008). If corrections need to
be made to your schedule, please email
Lynn Moubry [Lmoubry@smu.edu],
who monitors this site. You may check your requested schedule by using
the
Confirmed Dates/Times link.
- Law students will keep a weekly record with the number of
hours dedicated with VITA on a
Student Log form.
- Upon completion of 30 hours (22 hours plus 8 hours of training),
a Supervisory Report
form will need to be signed by the VITA site
coordinator to certify completion.
- Please submit both the Student Log and Supervisory Report to
Lynn Moubry [Lmoubry@smu.edu]
in Carr Collins Jr. Hall – room 309. Fulfillment of the Public Service
graduation requirement will be forwarded to the law registrar by
Lynn Moubry with a confirmation copy emailed to the student at the
end of each month.
Specifically regarding hours of credit:
- A student need not earn a full 30 hours in the VITA
program to receive Public Service credit. Most students complete 30
hours through the program, but a student is allowed to split
his/her public service requirement hours with another program to
complete 30 hours.
- Credit for the training session will be on a "matching" basis.
For example, if a SMU law student attends training for 8 hours and
works 8 hours in the field (8 field + 8 training), then 16 hours
of credit will be awarded. If a SMU law student attends training
for 8 hours and works 3 hours in the field, only 6 hours (3 field + 3
training) will be awarded. Finally, if a SMU Law student attends training
for 8 hours and works 22 hours in the field, then 30 hours (22 field + 8
training) will be awarded.
Specifically regarding site locations:
- A student may attend any site listed on the SMU
VITA Site List
during the day and time associated with the particular site.
Remember that site positions have a limited number of computers
available each day and will be closed when filled.
- If a student has requested a certain site location/time
and can not attend, he/she MUST phone: 214-768-2761 or email
Lynn Moubry: [Lmoubry@smu.edu]
and the VITA site coordinator
BEFORE such non-attendance. This will give the site time to
find a possible replacement.
Please email Mark Melton or Lynn Moubry with questions regarding the VITA
program. Please complete a Public Service Commitment form
Confirmation Agreement
form, and return it to Lynn Moubry in Carr Collins Jr. Hall – room 309 if you
plan to participate.
Thanks for your interest, and we'll see you in January!
Regards,