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This tax season, through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, ������Ƶ student are expected to help return $1.5 million dollars to more than 1,000 local tax filers.

“Last year, we passed the million-dollar mark. We’re on track to top that, putting a significant amount of money in the pockets of those who need it the most,” said Nicole Simpson, associate professor of economics, who oversees ������Ƶ’s VITA program.

Rachel Stahl ’11 (left) and Grace Seery ’11 (right) help a central New York couple prepare and file their tax returns at the Hamilton Public Library. (Photo by Luke Connolly ’09)

“This is money many families could have missed out on if it weren’t for VITA student volunteers.”

������Ƶ’s VITA program, funded by the university’s Upstate Institute, provides free tax preparation to low-income families in Madison and Chenango counties. Students are trained, and they must pass an IRS certification test before working on returns.

Many low-income families don’t receive the refunds they’re owed under the Earned Income Tax Credit, a federal tax break law for low-income families, because they can’t afford the assistance necessary to complete the forms.

As Paul Fuller, a New Woodstock resident, found out, the earned income credit can substantially increase the total refund.

“I’m not sure what I would’ve done without this service. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to get back this amount of money,” said Fuller, who counted on the know-how of ������Ƶ students during a recent tax session in the Hamilton Public Library.

“I’ll pay some bills and try to make the rest of money last until the end of the summer.”

For Melissa Nozell ’10, a VITA volunteer, there’s nothing like the reaction she gets when she tells filers how much they’ll be getting back.

“It’s a rewarding experience, and what a great feeling to know the positive impact that ������Ƶ students are having on local families,” said Nozell.