VITA 2008

 

April 19, 2008

 

This year’s workshop is almost concluded, but not quite.  We still have three clients who are now on extensions and awaiting the last of the documentation needed to file their returns.  One of them graduated last year and is back in her home country, which means that the process is operating by remote control.

 

It’s been an amazing year so far, with many interesting questions and issues.  Tax treaties are emerging as a crucial issue for more and more of our customers.  Thanks to all of our volunteers for the help you have provided.  The quality of the returns we prepared and advice we gave was extremely high thanks to your efforts.  For those volunteers who are not graduating this year, we certainly hope we will have you with us again next spring.

 

Jack Bogdanski

 

March 4, 2008

 

We are officially on the ground and working!  We had our first client this afternoon – a returning client, but an interesting and challenging case nonetheless.  She has one loose end, but that should be resolved shortly and her returns should be filed in a day or so.  She should be getting several hundred dollars of refunds.  Onward and upward!

 

It looks as though we may be scheduling some more interview times.  Volunteers should watch their e-mail inboxes for further details.

 

All our work is taking place in my office.  Volunteers, please try to show up around 15 minutes before your start time.  If you have any questions or concerns about scheduling, please contact my assistant, Sue Page, at spage@lclark.edu.

 

BTW, here are the suggested answers to our volunteer-self-administered “quiz”:  http://www.lclark.edu/~bojack/vitaquiz2008ans.pdf.

 

Thanks to all of our volunteers for their time and energy as this year’s program gets rolling.

 

Jack Bogdanski

 

February 21, 2008

 

Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is off and running.  The following LC law students have expressed an interest in volunteering, and their training materials have been sent to them:

 

Saba Ahmed

Jeff Balsz

Jeff Belcher

Tim Berry

Jo Bradshaw

Mina Chang

David Clarke

Christopher Fulmer

Leslie Hall

Amy Heverly

Ian Kyle

Robert Le

Jong-won Lee

Aubrey Lyon

Charles Marr

Jeff Myers

Olga Salyuk

Ann Trader

Jason Wax

 

If I’ve omitted anyone, apologies, and please let me know.

 

I’ve also devised a little “quiz” to see how the training is coming along.  It’s here: http://www.lclark.edu/~bojack/vitaquiz2008.pdf.

 

We’ll be scheduling appointments with clients shortly.  The bulk of the tax consultations will take place between March 4 and March 20.

 

This is a great turnout, and the auspices are good for another productive year.

 

Jack Bogdanski

 

February 16, 2008

 

To all Lewis & Clark law students:

I am writing to ask your help with a worthwhile pro bono opportunity -- the 2008 Lewis & Clark Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This is our 14th annual VITA program.  As always, noting that "charity begins at home," we will devote our efforts to helping international students at Lewis & Clark comply with their sometimes-onerous tax filing obligations in the United States.  To participate, law student volunteers must undergo training on foreign student tax problems; do a few hours of additional reading and thinking on their own; and be available on one or more Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday afternoons in March, when international students from the undergraduate campus will be coming to the law school for tax form preparation assistance.

No prior tax experience is necessary!  The training will give you the skills you need to participate, and all work will be done in two-person teams -- you and me.  Each international student "client" will meet with me and one law student volunteer in my office, and the three of us will prepare the client's tax returns together.

If you are interested in serving as a volunteer this year, please contact me at bojack@lclark.edu.  You will be contacted soon with updates about the written materials that you will need to master.  I'll be keeping a list of interested students, and other information, on this page.

 

Please consider signing up for this important pro bono project.  In addition to helping your fellow students, you are likely to learn some things about U.S. international taxation!

 

Thanks for considering this.

 

Jack Bogdanski

 

Created by: bojack@lclark.edu
Update:  19 Apr 08
Expires:  28 Feb 09