For twenty years, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at St. Thomas University has helped community residents secure tax refunds. VITA is the oldest pro bono program at St. Thomas University School of Law. Founded by St. Thomas Law Professor Mark J. Wolff, the program has secured taxpayers in excess of $10,000,000 in refunds; student, faculty, and staff pro bono hours have exceeded 40,000.
Last year, St. Thomas Law’s VITA program assisted nearly 300 taxpayers, resulting in approximately $500,000 in tax refunds. This year is expected to yield similar results. St. Thomas Law School students and other volunteers will spend each Saturday until the end of tax season providing this important free service to the most needy and vulnerable members of our surrounding communities. St. Thomas University’s Law School, already recognized by Super Lawyers for its pro bono graduation hours, works with current and former students, faculty, and staff to make this tax season service possible each year.
“Lawyers have a responsibility to be advocates for good, and helping our community with this important initiative is part of what being a St. Thomas Law student is about,” explained St. Thomas University Law School Dean Al Garcia.
IRS Certified Volunteers are available at St. Thomas University every Saturday through April 11 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, to prepare federal income tax returns, free of charge for individuals and families with a yearly income of $53,000 or less. For more information: 305.474.2415 or e-mail to vita@stu.edu.
