BEREA, Ohio — Baldwin Wallace University School of Business is partnering with the Cuyahoga EITC Coalition to provide Northeast Ohioans with free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) on Sunday.
The tax clinic is targeted to low-to-moderate income families who make roughly less than $60,000 a year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinic will only offer drop off services this year.
"The community will come in when they have an appointment, somebody sits with them, gathers their information and intake person does an interview," said Lynn Schulte, associate professor at Baldwin Wallace. "We gather their information, put it in a sealed envelope, and then pass it along to a preparer and then a reviewer. And then the next week, the community person, the taxpayer comes back in to pick up the return."
Schulte says visitors will be required to wear masks during their consultation.
Baldwin Wallace's Tax Clinic program has been in service for almost 30 years. It also trains Baldwin Wallace students in tax preparation which provides them with college credit opportunities and real-world experience.
"I have them for a few weeks prior to the tax season starting where they come in and they actually have to practice tax returns," said Schulte. "Since this is a vital site, they do need to pass the IRS exams for VITA volunteers, so at a minimum, they pass three exams coming into volunteering."
The tax clinics begin Sunday and will continue every Sunday through until March 21 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Taxpayers will be required to schedule an appointment by calling 211. Appointments will not be available by calling Baldwin Wallace. For more information, click here.
