In September 2024, Kathy Hurley, a lecturer in the Department of Accounting, attended the VITA Voices Summit in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the AARP Foundation and the IRS. Hurley helps operate the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Boise State, which allows IRS-certified tax preparers to assist individuals with their tax returns through both virtual and in-person appointments.
This invitation-only summit brought together directors of VITA and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs. The purpose was to share challenges and solutions, explore opportunities for collaboration, discuss building partnerships within communities and identify common resources and needs.
“It was incredible being with a group of like-minded people who are dedicated to helping citizens file their taxes,” Hurley said. “Most are working with limited resources with available time being an ongoing constraint. I learned about a program called GetYourRefund that allows taxpayers to upload their documents easily and be connected with a VITA tax preparation site for remote services. We are using it this tax season for our virtual clients and for clients who are referred to our program. Participants shared similar frustrations and tactics to help alleviate some of the challenges faced by all VITA sites.”