BLACKSBURG, Va., Nov. 2, 2010 – Virginia Tech has offered affordable workshops about tax preparation for half a century, a service the Virginia Tech Income Tax School will continue in November and December with a series of seminars for Virginians new or returning to the business of tax preparation.
Leon Geyer, professor of agricultural and applied economics in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has served as director of the Virginia Tech Income Tax School since 1981. His predecessor, Wayne Burkhart, associate professor of agricultural economics, originated the schools as farm tax schools. The training program has moved from assisting farmers to assisting and providing educational information for enrolled agents, certified public accountants, and other tax practitioners.
“Since 1960, the Virginia Tech Income Tax School has provided the knowledge and skills that Virginia’s tax professionals need to deliver a quality service to the people of the commonwealth,” Geyer said. “We hope that this successful program will continue for another 50 years.”
The two-day seminars for the Virginia Tech Income Tax School will tour the commonwealth, beginning, and ending at the state capital:
Experienced faculty from Virginia Tech, officials from the Internal Revenue Service and the Virginia Department of Taxation, and private practitioners will examine new tax laws and their implications for preparation of both federal and state taxes. The sessions are designed for individuals with tax experience who assist taxpayers in preparing and filing income tax returns.
Professional instructors will cover individualized problems involving tax code and discuss changes enacted within the past year. They will also provide a 600-page study guide to complement their instruction.
According to Geyer, the Virginia Tech Income Tax School attracts about 1,450 Virginians every year. About 28,000 individuals participate in similar university-sponsored tax preparation seminars in other states.
You may register online or contact the seminar registrar at (540) 231-5182 for information about a workshop in your area. The price varies, depending on locality.
Nationally ranked among the top research institutions of its kind, Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences focuses on the science and business of living systems through learning, discovery, and engagement. The college’s comprehensive curriculum gives more than 3,100 students in a dozen academic departments a balanced education that ranges from food and fiber production to economics to human health. Students learn from the world’s leading agricultural scientists, who bring the latest science and technology into the classroom.