IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program VITA

Hartwick College serves as an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program site. Also offering Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Tax Assistance.

What is VITA & TCE?

The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer qualified individuals free essential tax return preparation.

The VITA program has operated for over 50 years. VITA sites offer free tax help to people who need assistance in preparing their tax returns, including:

People who generally make $79,000 or less
Persons with disabilities; and
Limited English-speaking taxpayers

In addition to VITA, the TCE program offers free tax help, particularly for those who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.

WHY HARTWICK

We are the only VITA/TCE site in the region to offer ALL-YEAR no-cost tax service.

IRS Search

We are certificated with ALL levels (except Puerto Rico), specializing in Military, International Income, and Foreign Students & Scholars.

Hartwick IRS-certified students served over 5,000 families from 45 NYS counties and those from 19 states nationwide, achieving a 100% acceptance rate with zero errors, bringing over $4 million in economic value to the community, including saved tax filing fees and claimed tax refunds, tax credits, and Economic Impact Payments (stimulus checks) since 2019.

WHAT HARTWICK COLLEGE VITA & TCE WILL DO FOR YOU:

1-on-1 sessions (in-person and online)
IRS-certified volunteers prepare both federal and state returns

We Want to Help You - Services Offered

I. Traditional (In-person)

IRS-certified volunteers prepare electronically filed returns face-to-face with taxpayers at a designated location.

In-Person Service is available:

Hartwick College Campus Golisano 2nd Floor, Oneonta, NY
Mondays & Tuesdays 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.,
Feb 3 to Apr 15, 2025 (except March 17 and 18)
Call 607-431-4338 or email [email protected] for the appointment.

Huntington Memorial Library, Oneonta, NY
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,
Feb 8 to Apr 12, 2025 (except Feb 15, March 15 and 22)
Call 607-432-1980

Richfield Springs Community Center
Friday, Feb 7, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Call 315-858-3200. Leave a message to call back.

GHS Federal Credit Union, Norwich/Binghamton, NY
Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Norwich: Feb 21, March 7, and April 4, 2025
Binghamton: Feb 14, Feb 28, March 28, and April 11, 2025
Call 607-472-2876

Tabernacle Baptist Church, Utica, NY
Saturday, Feb 15, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Call 315-735-7534

Charlotte Valley Central School, Davenport, NY
Friday, Mar 7, 2025, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Call 607-431-4338 or email [email protected] for the appointment.

Laurens Central School, Laurens, NY
Friday, March 28, 2025, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Call 607-432-2050 ext. 1120

II. Facilitated Self-Assistance (FSA)

FSA (Facilitated Self Assistance) empowers taxpayers to prepare their tax returns. Through the FSA, you are able to use the IRS TaxSlayer FSA account to file your tax return on your own for FREE. Please get in touch with us if you want to take advantage of the IRS-sponsored, 100% FREE with the most accurate and updated online tax filing software. (Gross Income Limit: $84,000)

Call 607-431-4338 or email [email protected].

III. Drop-Off

Drop-off VITA services through mail or email

The taxpayer visits the drop-off site and leaves their supporting documents with the volunteer for their return to be prepared in their absence. Documents are stored securely, and the taxpayer returns to authorize e-filing of the return and retrieve their documents.

Call 607-431-4338 or email [email protected].

IV. NYS-Hartwick College TAP

NYS Department of Taxation and Finance Tax Assistance Program services allow you to file your return on your own for FREE, with experts walking you through it. You can go to https://www.tax.ny.gov/tap/ to schedule an appointment on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Especially for outstate students living on campus, your NYS Tax return needs attention and a particular application. We provide the laptop for this TAP section if you need one.

More About TAP

Contact Us

Call 607-431-4338 or email [email protected] with your name, phone number, and zip code if you are interested in making a reservation for any of these tax filing options.

Who Also Benefits?

This program offers our students an extraordinary professional experiential learning and development opportunity. Through VITA and TCE, our students gain valuable experience in the fields of tax preparation, administration, marketing, and technology support. Hartwick is the only
academic IRS-VITA partner nominated as a 2022 IRS Champion of Training.

All Hartwick College VITA & TCE students earn 100% job placement upon graduation.

“VITA was very educational in learning to do real tax work. It was also nice knowing that I was helping the community.”

Cole Bello '23

Accounting Major - CPA Track

“VITA is a place that has challenged me to be better every day. It’s rewarding to do something I love while helping to put a smile on people’s faces.”

Maggie Birby '22

Accounting Major - CPA Track

“When we think about people, kids getting out of the college and going into the workforce, we really like that they have the opportunity to work with individuals who have intellectual and other developmental needs. Because we hope they are going to include them in their lives after Hartwick College as well.”

Patricia Knuth

Former Director of Arc Otsego

“The VITA program helped me improve my communication skills through making unlimited hours of phone calls and face-to-face customer service. This program has also helped me become more organized in all variations of situations. This is a great opportunity to talk to a great amount of people and gain practice on great customer service.”

Nickelliot Yadir Veloz-Gallardo '23

Political Science Major; Minors in Legal Studies, Music Business, Business Administration