29
January
2020
|
12:29 PM
America/Chicago

It's TAX TIME

UHD VITA Tax Preparation Clinic is Now Open

Summary

By Sheryl E. Taylor

UPDATE: As the tax deadline is approaching, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service are providing special tax filing and payment relief to individuals and businesses in response to COVID-19. The filing deadline for tax returns has been extended from April 15 to July 15, 2020. The IRS urges taxpayers who are owed a refund to file as quickly as possible. For those who can't file by the July 15, 2020 deadline, the IRS reminds individual taxpayers that everyone is eligible to request an extension to file their return.

The Marilyn Davies College of Business is offering its fifth year of tax preparation services through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) and Houston communities.

In preparation for the upcoming tax filing season, an initial certification training is held for students who are volunteering for participation in the VITA program. It’s required by the IRS that every student must be certified to participate in the VITA program.

The Davies College of Business became an independent VITA site in 2018, known as UHD VITA. In the past the College has worked with other local organizations, such as Neighborhood Centers, Inc., to assist people who generally make $66,000 or less, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, college students and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.

The free tax preparation process for each client is approximately 45 minutes to an hour (sometimes more contingent upon each return) enlists the work of three individual students from the intake interview to data entry of the client's information to final review of the tax return. Once the tax return is finalized, it's filed electronically. After filing, clients can usually expect their refund within a week to a month; however, for international returns it sometimes may take longer.

UHD VITA regularly serves international students from surrounding universities and the Texas Medical Center. UHD is the only University site that does international and some military tax returns as well as assisting with virtual tax returns for Greater Longview United Way and Jackson Community Center in Orange, TX.

VITA is an IRS initiative designed to support free tax preparation service for the underserved through various partner organizations. For the last two tax seasons, 2017 and 2018, UHD VITA completed 628 and 883, respectively.

VITA Clinic Hours

January 27 – March 7

  • Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
  • Friday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

March 9 – April 15

  • Mondays & Wednesday: 4 – 6 p.m.
  • Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
  • Friday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Clinic Location

UHD Marilyn Davies College of Business
Shea Street Building
320 North Main Street, Room B226

For more information, call 713-238-1918 or email uhdvita@uhd.edu or visit UHD VITA

About the University of Houston-Downtown

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.