Taxpayers
SDSU VITA will
be open Tuesdays (1600-1730) and Saturdays (0900-1200).
Tuesday 3/18/08
Open
Saturday
3/22/08 Open
Tuesday
3/25/08 Open
Saturday
3/29/08 Closed
Tuesday
4/1/08 Closed
Saturday
4/5/08 Open
Tuesday
4/8/08 Open
Welcome to the San Diego State University VITA homepage!
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is an IRS program
designed to assist low income taxpayers ($48,000 and below) file their tax returns. Volunteers at this location are SDSU students
that have been trained and certified by the IRS to prepare tax returns.
| The complexities and the nature of tax law are obstacles that discourage
and frustrate many low-income taxpayers' efforts to complete their own
returns. In fact, many taxpayers who are entitled to refunds do not even
file a tax return at all because they do not understand the various credits
and deductions to which they may be entitled. Commercial tax preparers may
be too costly an option for low-income taxpayers. This is where VITA comes
into play.
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SDSU’s VITA program will prepare federal, state and city income tax returns,
without charge, for anyone meeting certain financial guidelines. The service is
provided on a first-come, first-served basis and your returns are prepared while
you wait.
Tax Benefits for Education
Are You Ready for a Tax Break? Did you pay tuition and related expenses in 2006 for yourself, a spouse or your dependent
at a post-secondary educational institution? If so, you may be eligible for a tax credit or deduction on your 2006
federal tax return!
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Hope Scholarship Credit: This is actually a tax credit rather than a "scholarship."
In 2007, taxpayers
are allowed to claim a maximum credit of $1,800 (100 percent of the first $1,200 of tuition and fees
and 50 percent of the next $1,200 of tuition and fees) for expenses paid on behalf of the taxpayer,
the taxpayer's spouse, or a dependent for the first two years of post-secondary education at an
eligible institution. The student must be enrolled on at least a half-time basis for at least one
academic period during the year for the expenses to be qualified.
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Lifetime Learning Credit: This allows taxpayers to claim a maximum credit equal to 20 percent of up to $10,000 of
expenses incurred during the taxable year for qualified tuition and fees for eligible students for post-secondary education,
including any course of instruction to acquire or improve job skills.
Computing these credits can be tricky because there are so many rates and limitations (and changes are made from year to year). SDSU
VITA volunteers can provide you with assistance in calculating these credits. For more information
on Tax Benefits for Education, please see IRS Publication 970.
Please note: The information covered on our web site is not intended
as tax advice nor should it be construed as tax advice. SDSU volunteers are not
professional tax advisors and cannot give tax advice. For tax advice assistance,
contact a professional tax advisor.
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