For the first time ever, Monticello High School Academy of Finance (AOF) students have opened a real-life tax office to help friends, relatives and community members with their taxes – for free!

Anyone with a gross income of $40,000 or less is welcome to call AOF Director Wendy Levinson at 794-8840, ext. 10848 to make an appointment. The service will be open from 2:15-4:30 p.m. during March and April. Individuals need to bring all of their tax forms and documents and their social security card. The service is overseen by accounting teacher Susan Bahrenburg who is a CPA, and math teacher Eric Shewmaker, both of whom are IRS tax preparer certified.

This year, the IRS estimates an additional 23.5 million taxpayers will need to file tax returns for the sole purpose of receiving the government stimulus package rebate.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program was formulated after Levinson and Bahrenburg became aware of its success at other AOF schools while attending a National Academy Foundation Conference in July 2007. They then met with IRS representatives who assisted them in implementing the program.

The main goal of VITA is to have students prepare accurate tax returns for other students and for low to moderate income adults at no cost. As part of the learning process, students in Levinson's Business Communications class are required to develop marketing materials and the necessary communications to inform the school and community of the service and their hours of operation.

As this pilot program takes flight, many of the students have shown tremendous responsibility and confidence in performing the tax service. It is an opportunity for them to use their knowledge in a real life situation and it provides them with an experience that connects them with the adult community members from the school district. The program has helped students build confidence as they move towards becoming independent adults. It also provides them with an opportunity to assume a challenge, pushes them beyond their comfort zone and shows them the value of socially responsible behavior.

To qualify, students have to become tax certified by taking an on-line IRS exam. They then receive a certificate indicating their capacity to perform the service. And as an added measure, there is a quality review process where all returns are double checked before submission.

Since the response and benefits of this new program have been so positive, AOF officials are already making plans for an expansion of the service for next year.

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