The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program is both a class offered during Winter Study (currently cross-listed under ECON 22 and POEC 22) and a community service program which provides low income taxpayers assistance filing their income taxes. Once trained through the Winter Study Course or through the IRS online training program (at irs.gov), certified student volunteers serve clients at the Berkshire Community Action Agency in North Adams on Thursdays, 4-7pm and Saturdays 10-2pm through most of the tax season. Community volunteers are also welcome to participate. For more information, contact Program Coordinator Paula Consolini at pconsoli@williams.edu

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Winter Study Course

This course examines tax policy towards low-income families in the United States, and has the following three objectives: 1) For students to understand the shift of redistributive policy in the United States from income support through the transfer system (Aid to Families with Dependent Children/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) towards support of working individuals through the tax system (primarily the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)); 2) For students to understand the challenges that low income individuals have “making ends meet” and to understand the role that the EITC has played in increasing the standard of living of the working poor; and 3) To enable students to understand the tax code well enough to prepare simple income tax returns, including those for filers claiming the EITC. Students will be trained by the IRS to prepare income tax returns for low-income individuals and families. At the end of the term, students will use their newly acquired expertise to help individuals and families in Berkshire County prepare and file their returns.

To learn more, see the full course description.