KU Law students offer free tax preparation
LAWRENCE — Tax season is underway, and University of Kansas School of Law students will once again assist eligible community members with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
This spring, KU Law students can prepare returns for taxpayers who make less than $69,000 per household per year and do not itemize their deductions. The VITA sessions began Feb. 16 and will end April 15. No sessions will take place March 16-22, which is KU’s spring break.
Sessions are 6-8:45 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 9-11:45 a.m. Saturdays at Green Hall, 1535 W. 15th St. A satellite location is offered 5-7 p.m. Thursdays at Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority, 1600 Haskell Ave.
Third-year law student Tanya Singh coordinates this year’s clinic. She first got involved with VITA as a second-year student. Singh said that she has come to learn how meaningful VITA’s work is and how many intricacies are involved with filing taxes. She cited working with seniors and those filing taxes on behalf of a deceased individual as cases she didn’t expect to encounter.
“The VITA program is important for KU and the local community as the tax-filing process, which, while overlooked, can be anxiety-inducing for many. There are many conventions and credits that people are unfamiliar with, which can cause worry as to whether someone is filing their taxes correctly or receiving the maximum benefit they can,” Singh said. “By using numerous levels of quality control and relying upon IRS-approved materials, VITA alleviates many of those concerns for members of the community, with an emphasis on serving those who need it the most."
Last year, the VITA clinic filed 141 returns totaling $223,486 during 30 sessions.
“The overarching goal of the program is to provide tax assistance to low-income members of the community for their benefit. While this program often benefits students, KU Law's VITA chapter serves a diverse clientele,” Singh said. “One of VITA's goals is to foster collaboration through longitudinal partnerships with community resources as a way to improve outreach and make a more meaningful impact on the local community.”
The law school’s VITA program operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and the number of preparers varies by site. Those seeking assistance are encouraged to arrive near the start of each session.
Taxpayers should bring proof of identification and all relevant documentation, including proof of income and expenditures.
For more information, call the VITA program at 785-864-9227 or email vita@ku.edu.
Legal Services for Students also offers free tax filing assistance through a VITA grant from the Internal Revenue Service. Legal Services for Students offers in-person tax filing workshops and access to free tax filing software.
In 2025, LSS assisted 2,000 tax filers, resulting in $1,204,292 in federal refunds claimed. U.S. resident taxpayers whose 2025 household income was less than $89,000 can prepare and file their federal and state tax returns electronically for free using software provided by LSS. International students, faculty and staff at KU who file as nonresident aliens can also file for free with LSS-provided software. There is no income limit for nonresident alien filers.
For more information about the tax services provided by Legal Services for Students, visit the LSS website or contact staff by email at legals@ku.edu.
“We understand taxes can be confusing. That’s why we are committed to making the process clear and straightforward,” said Jo Hardesty, director of Legal Services for Students. “At Legal Services for Students, our goal is not only to help you file but also to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to tackle your taxes with ease, year after year.”
The last day to submit a federal income tax return for the 2025 tax year is April 15.