Virginia State University to offer free tax service to Tri-Cities residents

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia State University (VSU) accounting students will offer a free tax service to residents in the Tri-Cities.

For the 38th year, VSU accounting students will partner with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide income tax preparation and filing assistance to 2024 individual and joint filers as part of the university's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.

According to the university, the service will be available to individuals or joint filers who live in the Tri-Cities area with an income generally $70,000 or less.

Tax information and valid identification must be dropped off at the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business at Singleton Hall, room 102, on VSU's campus, where a VITA worker will call clients to review the tax return.

According to the university, once the return is picked up and approved by the taxpayer, the return will be filed electronically via the IRS E-file system at no cost.

The site will be staffed beginning on Feb. 10 through April 9 on the following days:

• Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

The service will not be available on days when the university is closed, according to officials.

"We are thrilled to once again team up with the IRS to offer this critical tax resource to Tri-Cities residents," said Dr. Theodore R. Andrews, Jr., assistant professor of accounting and VITA manager. "This program not only provides an essential service to the community, but it also equips students with real-world skills in customer service and tax preparation."

For more information about the VITA program, contact Ms. Bertha Morgan at the VSU Accounting and Finance Department at 804-524-5842.