Rural Alaska Tax Assistance Program

The Rural Alaska Tax Assistance Program is a tax preparation and counseling volunteer program that culminates in a nine day service trip to remote Alaskan villages in late February to provide tax advice, counseling, and preparation services to local residents and fisherman. Up to two credits are available to students. The Program is a collaborative effort between the UW School of Law and the Alaska Business Development Center (ABDC). The Graduate Program in Taxation will provide required in-class instruction on the tax preparation certification, called “VITA certification.” The law school funds the volunteers’ flight from Seattle to Anchorage and ABDC provides for travel to rural villages, as well as further training and all the equipment necessary to provide tax preparation assistance.  ABDC is an Alaskan non-profit devoted to helping meet the business needs of people in rural Alaska.

To participate you must commit to 4-6 hours per week in December, January, and February, as well as the 10-day trip from February 14-23 (because of the President's Day holiday and leaving late on Friday, you will only miss four days of class.) Also you must be willing to fly in small bush planes, sleep on the floor, and prepare your own food in remote Alaska in frigid February conditions.  It is a great opportunity but not for the faint of heart.

Applications can be downloaded here: http://goo.gl/LpfQgK (note: UW Law students do not need to submit a letter of recommendation).

Questions can be directed to Wes Kovarik at weskovarik@gmail.com.

Please submit applications to Wes by Monday, October 14.