UK Law Students Provide Free Tax Preparation

Feb. 11, 2019
The University of Kentucky College of Law continues one of its signature pro bono efforts – the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.  The UK Tax Clinic will be open Monday, February 18 through Monday, April 15. Taxpayers can schedule an appointment at http://law.uky.edu/tax.

The UK Law VITA site is one of seven in Central Kentucky operating with the help of United Way of the Bluegrass. UK Law student volunteers provide free assistance with tax preparations and filings to mostly low-income individuals and international students and scholars.

The sites are by appointment only and are open:

• Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Gatton College of Business and Economics in room 435UK (fourth floor)
• Tuesdays from 5pm to 8 pm at the Lexington Central Library, located at 140 E. Main Street, Lexington, KY  40507, in Conference Room B
• Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm at the Lexington Central Library
• The clinic will be closed March 11 – 16 for UK’s spring break.

Taxpayers must bring the following:

• Photo ID
• Social Security Card or ITIN for taxpayer(s) and dependents
• All Forms W-2, 1099, 1098, or 1042-S you have received
• Documentation of other income
• Copy of last year’s return, if available

Last year volunteers prepared and filed 425 returns, saving clients more than $65,000 in preparation fees.  Clients received $300,000 in federal refunds and $40,000 in state refunds.

Douglas Michael, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Dorothy Salmon Professor of Law, leads the VITA clinic with the help of Jennifer Bird-Pollan, James and Mary Lassiter Associate Professor of Law.  All student volunteers must complete a series of in-class or online trainings and pass multiple Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tests to receive certification.  Students are awarded pro bono hours by UK Law for their participation.

For a list of frequently asked questions, visit http://law.uky.edu/tax/faq.