January 7, 2019
NORTH ADAMS, MASS. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and its Department
of Business Administration will partner with Habitat for Humanity to implement a Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to provide income tax assistance to local residents
in need through a new internship program for business and accounting students at MCLA.
VITA, a program offered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), offers this help to
low income individuals, elderly taxpayers, and taxpayers with disabilities. Habitat
for Humanity will administer this program.
According to Tara Barboza, assistant professor of accounting at MCLA – who also is
an enrolled agent with the United States Department of the Treasury and a Certified
Public Accountant (CPA) – the students who participate in this program will be IRS
certified and work under her supervision.
In addition to meeting a significant need in Northern Berkshire County, Barboza said,
“Participating in the VITA program is a unique opportunity that will provide students
with valuable, hands-on preparation experience.”
Prior to their participating in this program, students will complete IRS training,
test, and become certified to prepare returns. In addition, they will earn college
credit. Accounting students can use this credit toward the requirements for the CPA
exam.
In addition to Barboza, Dr. Thomas Whalen, president of the board of directors for
Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and an associate professor of business administration
and economics at MCLA, as well as Professor James Moriarty, chair of MCLA’s Department
of Business Administration, will participate in the program.
The VITA program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less,
persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance
to prepare their own tax returns.
Interested individuals should call Habitat for Humanity offices at (413) 442-0002
to find out if they qualify, and to schedule an appointment. Barboza and her students
will begin to see clients on Feb. 9, 2019. The program will continue through April
15, 2019.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is the Commonwealth's public liberal
arts college and a campus of the Massachusetts state university system. MCLA promotes
excellence in learning and teaching, innovative scholarship, intellectual creativity,
public service, applied knowledge, and active and responsible citizenship. MCLA graduates
are prepared to be practical problem solvers and engaged, resilient global citizens.
For more information, go to www.mcla.edu.
