AAA Spark Meeting of Regions

Economic Impact of the Coppin State Volunteer Tax Program.

• In Event: Taxation: Coppin State Volunteer Program, Firm Valud and Foreign Cash Holdings.

Abstract

This study examined the economic impact of Coppin State University VITA (volunteer income tax assistance) for the 2014 to 2018 tax season. Coppin State VITA has provided free tax preparation services to low income earners for several years.
The VITA program had a mutually beneficial impact on both the university and the community. The economic impact on the community for the four-year period from 2014 to 2018 was about $40 million. This was very advantageous to a community which by IRS standards was deemed impoverished. The university benefited by having its students obtain first-hand experience in tax preparation along with community- service hours as well as the immeasurable value of admiration and gratitude from the neighborhood resulting from community engagement.

Authors

• Loretta Baryeh, Coppin Sttate University

• Hyacinth Ezeka, Coppin Sttate University