Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program has been helping the community since the 1980’s. This service directly supports the mission of Niagara University and is an important part of the University’s Learn and Serve program. The VITA program offers free tax help for low to moderate income families, persons with disabilities, the elderly and those having limited English proficiency.

Key elements of services provided by Niagara are:

• Only basic returns are prepared
• Returns are prepared on campus or at the Doris W. Jones Family Resource Building (3001 9th St, 1st floor, Niagara Falls, NY 14305). This site is important due to transportation limitations of tax payers who come to the site.
• The income limit for a free return is $57,000 for taxpayers to participate.

Trained volunteers prepare basic income tax returns. The program is coordinated by members of Beta Alpha Psi, the international honor society for accounting, and the college’s accounting society.

In August 2010, the accounting students from Niagara University’s College of Business Administration were honored with a national award for preparing the most tax returns in the VITA program. The program is a great example of the Vincentian tradition of developing leaders who will make a difference in their community and the larger world, through excellence and humility.  

If you would like to process your own taxes free of charge, please access Niagara University TaxSlayer FSA