Students at Lakeshore Technical College Continue Providing Valuable Tax Preparation Assistance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/31/2022
CLEVELAND, WI —
According to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, COVID-19 placed great strains on the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program the past two years. During this time, accounting students at Lakeshore Technical College continued participating in the program as they have since 2005. Students will again offer tax preparation assistance to qualifying taxpayers.
There is no charge for having students prepare and file federal or state returns through the VITA program. Students cannot accept any type of compensation for their assistance, including tips or gifts. Students are supervised to ensure forms are completed accurately.
“We are determined to continue offering this vital program in a safe manner to our community members who need it,” said Lakeshore Dean of Business, Technology, and Hospitality Douglas Hamm. “In addition to filling that need, VITA offers our students the opportunity to demonstrate their tax preparation and customer service skills.”
LTC develops an appointment schedule for each tax season based on how many students are enrolled in its Applied Tax course. With 15 students enrolled at the time the schedule was developed, the service timeframe for this season was set for February 8 through April 5. All reservations were filled by late January.
Last year, students provided over 500 hours of community service while preparing 149 returns at LTC’s Cleveland campus. Their efforts generated $239,000 in federal and state refunds for clients. Students earned their IRS certification by successfully participating in the program.
For information about Lakeshore’s accounting programs, visit gotoltc.edu/programs-and-courses/degree-programs.
Nathan Buschmann, a spring 2021 Lakeshore Technical College accounting program student, assisted client Caroline Gotchy with preparing and filing her 2020 taxes as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program last April.
About Lakeshore Technical College
Each year more than 10,000 people enroll in courses at Lakeshore Technical College. They rely on LTC for job preparation, to earn a degree, upgrade a specialized skill, train as an apprentice, or seek a high school equivalency. LTC faculty and staff meet students where they are in life and help them get one step closer to achieving their goals.
LTC is a nationally recognized technical college. The college was ranked the #2 two-year college in the nation for adult learners by Washington Monthly, #20 in the nation for two-year college educational outcomes by WalletHub.com, a top-150 two-year college for the fifth consecutive time by the Aspen Institute, and a top 10 Bellwether Award finalist for two consecutive years.
Approximately 800 students graduate from LTC each year, and LTC’s associate degree graduates earn a median salary of $52,000 per year. In addition to the Cleveland campus, LTC serves students in Manitowoc and Sheboygan, and offers classes at additional sites throughout the district. Visit LTC at gotoltc.edu.
