The University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business and Salt & Light partner to bring the IRS-sponsored VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program to the local community. The VITA program is designed to help lower-income households, older adults, people with disabilities as well as non-English speakers prepare their tax returns.
You can help! No tax experience necessary!
We need volunteers on-site at Salt and Light in Urbana to greet clients and ensure taxpayers have the correct documents and information needed for accurate tax filings. Volunteers will not complete tax returns. Volunteers will coach college students with customer relations and information gathering skills.
The VITA program is a wonderful collaboration that develops Gies College of Business accounting students’ skills and provides a valuable community service. The VITA program provides free tax-filing services and helps community members receive significant tax credits.
What’s involved for volunteers?
Training on the VITA process (intake and returning completed tax returns to clients) will be provided. Approximately, 3-4 hours of training will be required before volunteering. Volunteer shifts will be 3 hours with the option to do more than one shift per week. Volunteers are needed from January through April 2025. The first informational meeting is November 19, 2024. Training begins in December.
In 2024, more than 700 tax returns were completed and filed for free because of this amazing program. In addition, Gies accounting students gained hands-on experience meeting with clients and completing tax returns, under the careful supervision of Gies College of Business faculty.
If you’re interested in learning more about volunteering, please complete and submit the Volunteer Interest Form. Then, you will be contacted email with more information including training dates. Also, you may contact Kathy Sweedler, VITA Site Coordinator, at VITA@business.illinois.edu with questions.