New Year, New Taxes: Students Participate in Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

Published:

February 27, 2024

Yesenia Mozo

An open library space with open windows. On the left, an aisle of bookshelves and on the right, a shelf full of books.

The Drake Community Library hosts the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.

A woman with short hair, glasses and a black shirt smiles at the camera. — **Emily Moore, professor emeritus of mathematics, is a lead volunteer for the VITA program. She helps recruit student volunteers and leads tax-related workshops.**

By December 2023, Professor Emerita of Mathematics Emily Moore had recruited over ten volunteers to participate in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The program is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) initiative in the United States that serves low-income families and individuals by preparing their tax returns for free.

The VITA program, supplemented with Moore’s mentorship, provides Grinnellians with tax law training and access to a practice tax filing software. Afterwards, students pass a certification exam, which allows them to officially file taxes for Poweshiek County taxpayers. The exam covers the intake and interview process, ethical practices, and tax scenarios that ensures students’ accuracy in determining tax refunds and debts.

As a lead volunteer for the VITA program, Moore helped distribute volunteer resource guides and led individual and group training sessions at Grinnell’s Drake Community Library and Noyce Science Center. The training gives students Iowa-specific tax scenarios ahead of official appointments with town residents.

Working alongside Moore are other seasoned VITA leaders, including Cathy Lents, Dan Rodrigues, Lee McFee, and Ryan Solomon. Solomon, who is the associate director of civic education and innovation at the Center for Careers, Life, and Service, emphasizes the program’s benefits for both the local community and Grinnell students.

A student works on a computer alongside Dan Rodrigues. A woman's back faces the camera.

“VITA is a crucial program for families-in-need in the community who cannot afford tax services and rely financially on their tax refund. It is a program that makes a definitive impact on the lives of these families and is valuable in helping students understand the nuances of the U.S. tax system. More importantly, it gives them meaningful interactions with community members they would not normally encounter.”

Grinnell student volunteers have already delved into the complex world of taxes, having already shadowed seasoned tax preparers and filed several tax forms themselves. The VITA program welcomes community members over the age of 60, those with disabilities, and those with limited English skills, most of whom are low- to middle-income families across Poweshiek County.

“Beyond the Grinnell VITA program, we are fortunate to have a student, Maya Flynn ‘26, in a Service Leadership Work Study position with the Iowa Center for Economic Success, which coordinates VITA programs statewide,” noted Solomon. “Ultimately, my role has simply been coordinating volunteers, although I have volunteered as a tax helper in the past. The real work is done by Professor Moore, Cathy Lents of Iowa State Extension, and the other community volunteers, who are all amazing.”

The VITA program is now officially underway at Drake Community Library through March 20. Low and middle-income families can schedule a 15-minute drop off or a face-to-face appointment by calling the Poweshiek County ISU Extension and Outreach office at (641) 623-5188, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

A man on the left and a woman on the right smile at the camera. They sit at a desk with their computers. — Low and middle-income families can schedule a 15-minute drop off or a face-to-face appointment by calling the Poweshiek County ISU Extension and Outreach office at (641) 623-5188, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The program runs until March 20.