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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 10/2/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
February 10, 2003 Richard Ryman column: Thirty years ago Karl Zehms saw a short blurb in an accounting journal
about something that seemed like a good idea. University of Wisconsin-Green
Bay Chancellor Ed Weidner agreed.
And so was launched what is now the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
program at UWGB: students preparing simple tax returns for taxpayers with
special needs, such as the poor, disabled or elderly.
VITA, which is a national program, didn't exist when Zehms, who is chairman
of Professional Programs in Business at the university, began rounding
up students those first few years.
"I really didn't give it much thought," he recalls. "I was 30 years
younger then and it sounded like a good idea. I said let's try it year
to year."
Now under the guidance of James Loebl, a lecturer in Business Administration,
the program served more than 200 people last year.
"It gradually got a little bigger and a little bigger," Zehms said.
Spanish-speaking help
And it will get a little bigger this year. For the first time, students
will be providing services for Spanish-speaking taxpayers at St. Willebrord's
Parish Center, 209 S. Adams St.
"I'm very excited about that," said Alicia Jones, a UWGB senior. "I've
seen many different sides of the community. I think that's been a real
positive experience. You get to see how your work affects real people."
Mostly, the student preparers are accounting majors, though that's not
a requirement. Zehms said they get 40 to 50 students a year to volunteer
for the program.
"There is a big push by professors. They really encourage you to do
it," said Hope Krepline, an accounting senior. "You really don't know
what it is like until you do it. These people are so grateful it's amazing."
Jones said she and her team — students work in pairs at the least
— prepared about 40 returns last year.
Simple returns
"They are pretty easy. I did not go through the training because I had
taken an individual income tax class," she said.
Krepline did not have prior tax training, so she completed federal and
state tax training beforehand, as many students do. She said her team
did about 50 returns last year.
Zehms said anything really complicated is referred to professional tax
preparers.
The students begin offering help today through April 15. They take off
March 17-21 for Spring Break.
The schedule is: Zehms, who turned over his responsibilities for the program about 15
years ago, is proud of the work the students continue to do.
"In all those years, we've never had a problem, never had a lawsuit,"
he said.
Call Richard Ryman at (920) 431-8342.
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