Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program
The purpose of the VITA program is to encourage families, who qualify for earned income tax credits, to file for their returns and then enroll in a matched savings program. The goal is to educate individuals and families on how to create wealth through building assets. Over the past three years, nearly 200 Freeman students have assisted the VITA program return $3,000,000 to the local community by preparing tax returns for over 2,000 local working families free of charge.
The Individual Development Account Collaborative of Louisiana, IDACL, then teaches these families how to build assets through a matched savings program. Participants are required to select one of three asset building goals: homeownership, business ownership or education.
For more information about the IDACL visit: http://idacola.tulane.edu
The dates for filing returns are January - April 15. Please call 504.865.5455 to get a list of VITA sites in your area. If you would like more information on VITA , please contact:
Lina Alfieri-Stern
Associate Director, Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship
A.B. Freeman School of Business
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118-5699
Phone: (504) 865-5455 Fax: (504) 862-8902
Email:linaa@tulane.edu
