LAS VEGAS - Students at the William S. Boyd School of Law from are offering free tax preparation to individuals and families earning $51,000 or less annually.
This is the second consecutive year the Boyd School of Law Financial Law Society is operating a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Thirty-six student volunteers were trained at the highest levels available and certified to prepare and file tax returns by the IRS. They are able to prepare tax returns for military personnel and their families as well as individuals with international incomes. The volunteers also have special training on the tax forgiveness available to Nevada taxpayers who have suffered a foreclosure or short sale in the past year.
Taxpayers are asked to bring their returns, photo ID and Social Security card for themselves and dependents. No appointment is necessary.
Assistance is available on:
- March 14 and April 4 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Robert E. Price Community Center at 2050 Bonnie Ln.
- March 9 and 16 and April 6 and 13 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Recreation Center lat 3930 Cambridge St.
- April 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West Career and Technical Academy at 11945 W. Charleston Blvd.
- April 13 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Desert Breeze Community Center at 8275 Spring Mountain Rd.
High school students from West Career and Technical Academy also are serving as tax preparation volunteers, a first for the program. Boyd School of Law student and Financial Law Society Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rajan O. Dhungana trained the high school students. Dhungana is a VITA tax instructor and has taught classes this year for volunteers from United Way of Southern Nevada, Nevada Partners for Homeless Youth, and Community Partners of Nevada.
Dhungana and Financial Law Society President and Chief Operating Officer Christopher Humphrey as well as Chief Information Officer Izaac Rowe continue to train the high school students at the intermediate level and beyond.
The high school students have spent class time practicing tax preparation, and are scheduling two appointments per class period. On April 6, they will team up with the law school volunteers to assist walk-in taxpayers as well as taxpayers who have made an appointment with the high school directly.
Another first for this year is the extension of the program to northern Nevada. IRS trained and certified Boyd School of Law students will offer free tax preparation at the Carson City Business Resource Innovation Center. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are preferred. Appointments can be made by calling 775-283-7123.
Founded in 2009, the Boyd School of Law Financial Law Society is a student-run organization that seeks to foster a better understanding of how financial law effects local and global markets through various forms such as bankruptcy, taxation, etc. The Boyd School of Law's VITA program was one of two programs nationally to receive a Rookie Site Honorable Mention award in August 2012 from the American Bar Association's Law Student Division.
