February 3, 2025
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and its Department of Business Administration
will once again partner with Habitat for Humanity to offer free tax preparation services
to qualified residents through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program
starting February 10.
Through the IRS’s VITA program, MCLA students assist taxpayers by providing free tax
preparation services. To qualify, most individuals and families must earn $67,000
or less, however, there is no income limit for those with disabilities, limited English-speaking
skills, and individuals over the age of 60 with retirement or pension income.
Students work under the supervision of MCLA Accounting Professor Tara Barboza, an
enrolled agent with the United States Department of the Treasury and a Certified Public
Accountant (CPA). According to Barboza, the students participating in this program
undergo rigorous IRS training to become IRS certified over their winter break and
then participate in in-person training throughout January and the first week of February.
“Participating in the VITA program is a unique opportunity that will provide students
with valuable, hands-on preparation experience. They earn college credit, and accounting
students can use this credit toward the requirements for the CPA exam all while volunteering
in our community. In addition, students build a sense of belonging, confidence, and
soft skills that will serve them throughout their college and professional careers,”
Barboza said.
Interested individuals should call Habitat for Humanity offices at (413) 442-3181
to find out if they qualify, and to schedule an appointment. MCLA students will begin
to see clients on Monday, Feb. 10, 2024. Hours will be Mondays and Wednesdays from
4-8 p.m., in MCLA’s Murdock Hall Business Suite RM 102, located at 375 Church St.
in North Adams. The program will continue through April 14, 2025.
About MCLA
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught
by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive
on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed
to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered
to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to
public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence.
MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top Ten Public Colleges for
10 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts
Schools in the nation for 2025, after earning the No. 7 spot the prior three years.
The College’s focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in
additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for
liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility
for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools
graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
