SHU Students Volunteer to Prepare Tax Returns

Participants gain course credit and real-world experience while giving back to the community

As they do every year at this time, Sacred Heart University students have been volunteering to prepare and file tax returns for low- to moderate-income families as part of a three-credit course the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology offers accounting majors.

The University works with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) initiative that offers free tax preparation services for qualifying people through various partner organizations. Under the guidance and leadership of Danny Pannese, associate professor of accounting, the SHU students volunteer with the Bridgeport North Branch Library VITA site in cooperation with the Burroughs Community Center in Bridgeport.

The center collects participating taxpayers’ W-2s, social security, retirement income and other source documents along with an intake questionnaire that the students review prior to students virtually meeting with clients. This allows students to review and evaluate information and anticipate any questions or issues.

Students must pass three exams to participate in the VITA program, including the IRS advanced certification exam. Depending on the number of students, the class prepares 25 to 40 returns each tax season.

Class instructor William Anderson challenges students by requesting more difficult returns to “enhance their experience of applying theory to practice.” He reviews all returns before they are filed.

This tax season, three groups of students met once a week to prepare returns for Bridgeport residents through the VITA program. “I did this as a way to further improve my understanding of taxes and to gain real-world experience before I start my career,” said Ryan Greene ’24. “Last week, we had our first client. We got her a much larger return than she received the previous year, and she was very thankful. It was gratifying that I was able to help somebody like that.”

Fellow finance and accounting double major Rachel Flaherty ’24 agreed. “The most valuable part is the real-world experience,” she said. “Our professor is very hands-on. We are getting assistance, yet we are doing the work on our own. It’s super rewarding knowing the client is trusting us and is confident in our work, and it’s great hearing their reaction at the end of the process.”

Christian Campo ’24 praised Anderson’s skill as an instructor. “He is very to the point; you know what he expects of you. He explains things well, and he is always there to help. It’s a very good learning experience,” said Campo.

Andrew Gagliardi ’24 said volunteering with VITA enables students to apply what they learned in class to real situations. “We went from studying the material all last semester to actually using the knowledge and communicating with clients,” he said. “We’re asking questions to help as advocates. It’s a really rewarding thing to do.”

Bridgeport residents may apply to VITA at the Burroughs Community Center through April 14. More information is available online.