Welcome to the San Diego State University VITA homepage!

2012 SDSU VITA will be open Tuesdays (1600-1730) and Saturdays (0900-1030) in room EBA 113 on the SDSU Campus.  (Come as early as you can, since we will service the first 30 taxpayers to arrive each session)

Saturday          2/11/12    Open 

  Tuesday         2/14/12    Open

Saturday          2/18/12    Open

  Tuesday         2/21/12    Open 

Saturday          2/25/12    Open

  Tuesday         2/28/12    Open

Saturday          3/03/12    Open

  Tuesday         3/06/12    Open

Saturday          3/10/12    Open

  Tuesday         3/13/12    Open

Saturday          3/17/12    Open

  Tuesday         3/20/12    Open 

Saturday          3/24/12    Closed  Spring Break   

  Tuesday         3/27/12    Closed  Spring Break

Saturday          3/31/12    Open

  Tuesday         4/03/12    Open

Saturday          4/07/12    Open

  Tuesday         4/10/12    Open

Done, see you next year!

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is an IRS program designed to assist low income taxpayers ($50,000 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.

Taxpayers The scope of SDSU's VITA program generally includes the following: We will PREPARE returns with/for: Individuals earning less than $50,000 during 2011. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC or EIC). American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credit (Form 1098-T). Scholarships and grants received. Form 1040 (Schedules A, B, EIC & R). Dividend and interest income. (Form 1099-DIV and 1099 INT) Non-employee compensation (NEC). (Form 1099-MISC) Child tax credit. California renter's credit. Educator expenses. We will NOT PREPARE returns with/for: Complex tax issues. (Professors Whittenburg or Gill will decide if an issue is too complex for our VITA volunteers.) Multistate taxation (i.e., non California Returns) Any sort of business/rental income (Schedule C, E). More than 3 stock sales (Capital Gains/Losses). Self-employment income. Employee business expenses. Minor's investment income.

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.

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 2010 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 2010 federal tax return!

American Opportunity Credit: Formerly the HOPE credit, this is a tax credit rather than a "scholarship." In 2011, taxpayers are allowed to claim a maximum credit of $2,500 for expenses paid on behalf of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or a dependent for the first four years of post-secondary education at an eligible institution. Required course materials are have been added to the list of qualifying expenses. 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.

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 Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Attorney, or Enrolled Agent (EA).