VITA PROGRAM
(Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)
The annual tax filing season each spring provides opportunities for Murray State accounting majors to gain hands-on
experience processing income tax returns. Murray State University's Department of Accounting and Beta Alpha Psi
professional accounting fraternity co-sponsor the MSU (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. While VITA
gives accounting majors the opportunity to obtain real-life experience in the income tax area, what the program
provides for the community is equally important. Through the annual program, MSU students, MSU employees, senior
citizens, and moderate income taxpayers in the region receive free income tax preparation.
The accounting majors who staff this IRS-sanctioned program perform a variety of duties. Some prepare federal
and state income tax returns, while others perform quality review of completed returns, photocopy documents, or
lend other assistance as needed. Dr. Floyd W. Carpenter, Professor of Accounting at MSU and Faculty Coordinator of
VITA, along with two student coordinators, train the volunteers each year on the fundamentals of preparing income
tax returns and performing other important tax preparation functions. Throughout the tax filing season for the VITA
program, which operates from early February through the last Friday on or before April 15, Carpenter monitors staff
performance and assists participants on the more difficult tax compliance issues.
The VITA program at Murray State enjoys a long and rich tradition and is is a tremendous success. MSU accounting
students have the opportunity to apply what they learn in class and provide a much needed service to local
constituents. The Murray State program processes more tax returns than any other VITA site in the Western
Kentucky/West Tennessee region according to Ms. Esther Parker, the IRS VITA regional coordinator. During the spring
of 2001, student volunteers prepared a record number of 750 combined federal and state income tax returns, an
increase of 53 returns over the prior year. The success of the program is attributable to taxpayer satisfaction
with the service, a friendly, professional and competent staff of accounting majors, and greater public awareness
of the program. Additionally, while providing a critical service to the region and a learning opportunity for the
accounting students, VITA also exposes young people to the importance of volunteerism and community service early
in their professional lives. In short, the MSU VITA Program thrives because of the many benefits it offers to all
who participate.
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