MCLA, Habitat for Humanity Collaborate to Offer Free Tax Assistance to Those in Need
NORTH ADAMS, MASS.— Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and its Department of Business Administration will once again partner with Habitat for Humanity to offer free tax preparation services to local residents in need through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Habitat for Humanity administers VITA, a program of the IRS, to assist taxpayers with disabilities or limited English speaking skills, those 60 years of age or older, or individuals who make $57,000 or less per year. MCLA students will be available to complete both basic and advanced returns, including those with itemized deductions.
The students who participate in this program undergo a rigorous training, become IRS certified, and will work under the supervision of MCLA Professor of Accounting Tara Barboza, an enrolled agent with the United States Department of the Treasury and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
In addition to meeting a significant need in Northern Berkshire County, Barboza said, “Participating in the VITA program is a unique opportunity that will provide students with valuable, hands-on preparation experience.” They will earn college credit, and accounting students can use this credit toward the requirements for the CPA exam.
Interested individuals should call Habitat for Humanity offices at (413) 442-0002 or (413) 442-3181 to find out if they qualify, and to schedule an appointment. MCLA students will begin to see clients on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Hours will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-8 p.m. in MCLA’s Murdock Hall, on the MCLA campus in North Adams. The program will continue through April 13, 2022.
About MCLA:
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. In nearly every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate our students as individuals, as leaders, communicators, fully empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 127-year commitment to public education, we have fortified our commitment to equitable academic excellence. For nine of the last 11 years, MCLA has been named a Top Ten College by U.S. News and World Report. MCLA also appears on the organization’s list of top National Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Since the list was created, MCLA has risen to #21 as a Top Performer on Social Mobility and ranks first among all Massachusetts schools, which measures how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants.
Learn more at www.mcla.edu.