Nearly Four Decades Of Community Outreach: VSU Accounting Students To Provide Free Tax Services

Through the University’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, students gain valuable experience while serving Tri-Cities residents.

For the 39th consecutive year, Virginia State University will offer free tax preparation services to Tri-Cities residents. VSU accounting majors are partnering with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide income tax preparation and electronic filing assistance for 2025 single and joint filers through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Housed in the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business, the VITA program was established to assist low- to moderate-income and elderly residents with navigating the complexities of tax filing. Services are available to individuals and joint filers residing in the Tri-Cities area with a combined income of $67,000 or less.

“Thirty-nine years of offering this essential service to Tri-Cities residents is an extraordinary achievement,” said Dr. Theodore R. Andrews, Jr., assistant professor of accounting and VITA manager. “At VSU, Greater Happens in many forms, and this program exemplifies that not only through its community impact, but also through the valuable hands-on experience it provides our students.”

Tax documents and valid identification must be dropped off at the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business, Singleton Hall, Room 102, on the VSU campus. All document drop-offs and pick-ups are by appointment only. A VITA worker will contact clients by phone to review the prepared tax return. Once the return is approved and picked up by the taxpayer, it will be filed electronically through the IRS E-file system at no cost.

Clients must bring the following items when submitting their tax documents:

  • Valid photo identification
  • W-2 forms
  • SSA-1099 forms

The VITA site will be staffed three days a week from February 9 through April 9, 2026:

  • Mondays and Tuesdays: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Services will not be available during Spring Break, March 8–15, 2026, or on days when the University is closed.

To schedule an appointment or for additional information about the VITA program, contact Ms. Bertha Morgan in the VSU Accounting and Finance Department at (804) 524-5842.