New Mexico State University is currently offering free tax filing assistance to underserved individuals in the community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). The services are provided by NMSU accounting students who have undergone training and received certification to assist taxpayers with filing their tax returns.
Rebeca Pérez, a visiting assistant professor at NMSU, highlighted the importance of the program, stating, "This semester at NMSU, we created this opportunity where our students get course credit for participating in the VITA program, as an independent study or practicum. They receive that same IRS-based training and pass those certification exams to then be qualified to assist with tax filing."
The VITA program aims to help households with income of $65,000 or less, veterans, individuals with disabilities, non-English speaking households, and elderly individuals. Pérez emphasized that the program not only benefits taxpayers but also provides valuable real-world tax experience for NMSU accounting students, helping them fulfill academic credit requirements and potentially pursue careers in taxation.
Pérez also noted that the program cannot guarantee assistance with every tax return, and there are limitations on the types of returns they can help with. However, beginning in March, the program will start filing non-resident returns, which is particularly important for international graduate students at the university.
"They have a tax filing requirement, and that filing requirement is different than for U.S. citizens," Pérez explained. "They don’t file a 1040, they file a 1040-NR, and that’s a very much underserved community because there are some people who don’t know about the U.S. tax system, so they need help with filing."
Individuals interested in receiving assistance are encouraged to visit the program as soon as they receive their tax forms and to come during the early hours of the day. Taxpayers are advised to ensure they have all necessary documents before seeking help. More information about what to bring can be found at https://www.freetaxeselpaso.org/what-to-bring.
The free tax filing services are available on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon in the Business Complex building at NMSU, room 108, during the tax season. The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis and will be closed on specific dates. For general information about the VITA program, individuals can visit https://www.freetaxeselpaso.org/.
