Small Numbers, Large Returns: College Students Helping Community Members Prepare Income Tax Returns

Abstract

This article examines the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, an IRS-sponsored initiative designed to help those who cannot afford professional tax assistance, people with disabilities, people uncomfortable speaking and understanding English, the elderly, and others with special needs. The author discusses its implementation at a small liberal arts university, the circumstances leading to the creation of this successful service-learning component of the university's accounting program, some background on service learning, the program itself, and the intrinsic reward of having served the greater community.

Keywords:

• accounting
• income tax
• service learning