Volunteers prepare returns as VITA program hits deadline
As the April 15 tax deadline looms, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program at Utah State University closed its doors for the season after a whirlwind semester of spreadsheets, tax forms and a massive surge in community demand.
Operating out of the George S. Eccles Business Building, the program provides free federal and state tax preparation for students and community members. Led by Paul Campbell, a former public accounting professional turned USU full-time accounting lecturer, the program saw a significant revitalization this year with about 85 student volunteers. However, as the program concludes its final sessions this week, organizers are already looking toward next year with a plea for the public: Don’t wait until March.
The VITA program is a rigorous, student-led initiative that begins long before the first tax return is filed. Every January, student volunteers undergo a two-week intensive training session based on IRS, or the Internal Revenue Service, guidelines. To ensure accuracy and taxpayer protection, every volunteer must pass IRS-administered certification exams before they are allowed to assist the public.
“What we do, first of every year, January, when students come back from winter break — we’ll put together a couple of weeks of training sessions,” Campbell said. “The trainings and the exams that need to be taken are all given by the IRS to get people certified to do that.”
Once certified, students spend their evenings and weekends navigating complex tax codes for residents who might otherwise struggle to afford professional accounting services. For the students, it is an introduction to the professional world a classroom cannot replicate.
This year marked a milestone in Campbell’s five-year effort to rebuild VITA after the program “fell apart” during the coronavirus pandemic due to data security concerns. With 85 volunteers, the capacity to help was higher than ever, but the distribution of clients remained a challenge.
“Usually, those first few weeks in February, we don’t get people coming for help, and that’s when I have a lot of student volunteers … then nobody’s there,” Campbell said.
The conditions changed rapidly as March progressed, culminating in a “massive” turnout in the final weeks, according to Campbell.
Mikelle Smith, a volunteer from the previous year, noted the educational impact of these high-pressure interactions.
“During my time volunteering with VITA, I had the opportunity to help members of Cache Valley prepare their tax returns,” Smith wrote in an email to The Utah Statesman. “Although I had completed two tax courses beforehand, working in a real-world setting was incredibly valuable. I encountered challenges and situations that I had not previously experienced.”
The program officially wrapped up its operations at the end of March — weeks before the actual IRS deadline — to accommodate the academic schedules of the student volunteers.
Campbell said as the semester winds down, students must shift their focus to final projects and exams, making an April extension impossible.
“Early is better for people to come down,” Campbell said, hoping to shift the community’s habits for 2027.
Despite the last-minute rush, the program remains a vital bridge between the university and the Logan community, according to Campbell. While Campbell acts as a mentor and technical adviser for the students, he emphasized the students are the ones doing the heavy lifting.
“It’s free,” Campbell said. “Get your tax return prepared and filed with the state and federal governments at no charge. We really want people to take advantage of that.”
Smith said for students, the support system within VITA ensures even the most difficult tax situations are handled correctly.
“With the support of Professor Paul Campbell and fellow VITA volunteers, we were always able to find effective solutions,” Smith wrote.
As the lab lights turned off on March 28, the VITA team is already planning for a smoother, earlier start next January to ensure every member of the Aggie community can get their “feet in” on their finances without the March stress.