Community Resources

Unlocking Opportunities: Community Resources for Success

Nazarian College has a variety of resources that meet the diverse needs of individuals who live in the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles region. Initiatives, such as the VITA Clinic, Small Business Consulting Program and the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, demonstrate the college’s commitment to providing needed resources for the community while also providing critical hands-on skills for students.

VITA Clinic

Serving the public since 1970, the CSUN VITA Clinic is a cost-free income tax assistance service to low-income residents in the San Fernando Valley and beyond and provides students with a quality experiential learning experience in the field of taxation.

The CSUN VITA Clinic is sponsored by the Bookstein Institute for Higher Education in Taxation in the Department of Accounting at the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics.

Check if you Qualify Here.

Services

• Under the supervision of experienced tax practitioners, trained and certified CSUN students provide free tax preparation services (federal and state) to eligible low-income taxpayers.
• Services are offered at the CSUN campus and several remote sites in the community beginning in late January through mid-April each year. We also provide appointment-based tax preparation services to eligible taxpayers throughout the year.

Why use the CSUN VITA Clinic?

In 2024, the CSUN VITA Clinic served 9,722 taxpayers at 15 locations. An impressive 282 students volunteered more than 31,000 hours at the clinic under the supervision of expert CSUN Nazarian faculty. These students helped local taxpayers claim more than $10.9 million in federal and state tax refunds and more than $3.6 million in federal and state-earned income tax credits while saving the taxpayers more than $2 million in preparation fees. Trained volunteers provide a smooth and efficient tax preparation process. 

Filing taxes can be a stressful and overwhelming process. Let our volunteers, trusted by over 9,700 low-income taxpayers in Los Angeles County help ease the stress of filing your tax return this year.

Make an Appointment Here.

• Go to VITA Clinic

Nazarian College Small Business Consulting Program

The David Nazarian College of Business and Economics provides free consulting services to small businesses through its Small Business Consulting Program.

Under the guidance of expert faculty, Nazarian College students provide research, analysis and recommendations for small business owners—many of whom are minority-owned and operate with limited resources.

During the past 40 years, the program has helped hundreds of small businesses, resulting in significant revenue and job growth for the San Fernando Valley region. In addition to helping small businesses, the program provides traditionally underserved, low-income minority Nazarian College students with marketable skills that increase their earning power and marketplace value.

Services

• Top undergraduate and graduate students serve as consultants under the expert guidance of faculty.
• Clients receive tailored consulting services, which include research, analyses, recommendations and a comprehensive report and presentation.
• Areas of consulting include business development, management, marketing and strategy.

Why use Nazarian College Small Business Consulting?

Nazarian College has an impressive track record of helping small business owners address challenges and discover growth opportunities in the San Fernando Valley region. Student consultants bring a breadth and depth of cultural diversity that can serve as a point of connection with clients.

Nazarian College regularly receives accolades for its small business consulting program, which is funded in part by Wells Fargo. For the past 10 years, students have participated in the Small Business Institute’s international national small business consulting competition, placing among the top three teams each year and in seven of those 10 years, they have taken the top prize. The Small Business Institute is the premier national organization for those engaged in student-led small business consulting.

• Go to Small Business Consulting

Bookstein Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

The Bookstein Low Income Taxpayer Clinic provides free representation to low-income taxpayers facing tax disputes with the Internal Revenue Service. Under the supervision of an experienced tax faculty, students are assigned to represent low-income taxpayers who are facing a dispute with the Internal Revenue Service.

The LITC also conducts educational workshops to educate low-income taxpayers and taxpayers who speak English as a second language about their rights and responsibilities under the federal tax system. 

Services

• LITC provides free representation to low-income residents of Los Angeles who are facing an audit or have another dispute with the IRS.
• The clinic operates year-round and is housed in the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics.
• Undergraduate accounting and graduate tax students are trained to assist low-income taxpayers.

Why use LITC?

There are many reasons, including:

• Clinicians can represent clients before the IRS, negotiating on their behalf and ensuring their rights are protected.
• Clinicians are knowledgeable about tax law and IRS procedures.
• The clinic provides educational resources to help taxpayers understand their rights and responsibilities and empower residents to better navigate future tax issues.
• The clinic operates under strict confidentiality rules, ensuring client information remains private.
• All prospective clients are initially screened by the clinic staff to determine eligibility for services. 

To begin the screening process, call our clinic at 818-677-3688.

• Go to LITC