Volunteer tax preparation program helps clients navigate murky waters of filing

Tax season and the prospect of dealing with the IRS can make for a daunting and stressful process for many filers.

But not quite everyone.

“I like taxes,” said a smiling Alex Wix, uttering three words often not heard when describing the annual exercise of filing taxes. “I enjoy the process of what is going on, and I really like the people we help. This is quite rewarding.”

Wix is one of more than 25 Boise State University student and community volunteers who give of their time and talents on behalf of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. In between class time and their personal lives, the students typically spend several hours each week assisting those in need of tax assistance.

After obtaining three credits for her service the first year she volunteered, Wix found she enjoyed the experience so much she re-upped for a second year. This spring she will complete her master’s degree in accounting before moving on to what she calls her first “big girl job” in the real world.

Sponsored by Congress, and with assistance through a grant from the IRS, the VITA program is a no-cost operation available to taxpayers who qualify for help.

“There are two main parts of this program,” Kathy Hurley said. “One is assisting the low-to-moderate income taxpayers. And the other is helping the students and volunteers obtain certification as tax preparers.”

IRS guidelines stipulate low to moderate taxpayers as those who earn $67,000 or less based on the earned income credit limits for the previous year.

When not providing lectures to her accounting students at BSU, Hurley serves as the VITA program advisor, a role she has held since 2013.

“Our goal — and it’s been mine from day one, and of everybody that helps me — is you can come in and have your taxes done,” she said. “You get the relief that they are filed, they’re out the door.

And we do it in a cheerful positive environment.”

With immense support from the BSU College of Business and Economics, the longtime program helps students earn academic credits and gain hands-on experience as certified tax preparers before embarking on future careers in the financial sector.

“We are certified. We have people with years of tax experience that are looking at this and making sure that we do it right,” Hurley said.

Based on figures she rattled off, the program appears to be working and checking all the right boxes.

“We have increased 28% year-over-year the last three years,” she said. “Last year we had approximately 890 returns accepted. Our current goal this year is almost 1,600.”

To become certified tax preparers, all students and community volunteers must pass a series of exams. And as many people know, whether doing them yourself or having them prepared by a qualified preparer, navigating tax filings can be challenging and difficult.

“Attacking a big tax expense at the end of the year can be very stressful for some people,” Wix said. “Maybe someone has gone through a hard custody battle. Who knows? The people we help are not difficult. Some just have frustrating personal situations.”

Fellow BSU student and volunteer Pete Meade, who also will graduate this spring with an accounting degree, recalled sitting down with one client who presented him with not one, not two, but eight separate W2 forms chronicling their past year’s work history.

“It can be challenging to make sure all who come in have all the right documents,” Meade said. “Even with all those W2 forms, I still had to ask this person to go back home and retrieve their Social Security card in order for me to officially process their return. But we were patient and managed to get it done.”

Overall, the VITA program provides a positive net return for those on both sides of the table in the tax filing process.

“I don’t really feel as if I am doing this to help me graduate,” said Averi Waterman, another BSU program volunteer. “It’s something you need in the real world. Learning about taxes and helping people at the same time is a win-win situation.”

For Waterman, a part-time server who will graduate in May, she hopes to parlay her volunteer experience and a degree in business administration into a career as a sports agent.

In her first month volunteering, her biggest challenge was helping one client who had not filed taxes for the past two years. Unfazed, Waterman said she just filed the scenario in the category of “life’s circumstances” and took care of business. “It’s a no-judgment zone. Lots of people who come in have a lot going on in their lives. We got it all cleared up and got her a return.”

According to Hurley, many of the situations students encounter as volunteers are vastly different than what they will likely face later in life as professionals.

“Through this program, they learn how to do taxes, and to do them for a population many of them will likely not see in their careers,” she said. “So, if they eventually become tax accountants, they’re going to be dealing a lot with businesses, more upper income.”

Which for VITA student volunteers means plenty of opportunities for growth, personally and professionally.

“On the human level, they are exposed to stories and life experiences that are incredibly diverse,” Hurley said. “From the refugee that’s been in eight different camps all around the world and landed their first job, to retired people that have had very fulfilling and good careers who are now living on their social security. We have veterans, the disabled and even single parents trying to navigate having a child and a job.”

The variety of clients means students must keep up with constantly changing tax laws and codes as they prepare for their professional careers.

“It can be very difficult because in this setting there are things in scope for us and some out of scope,” Wix said. “Our scope is more narrow so it makes it great for learning. But I learn something new about taxes every single day I am here.”

A “hands-on internship” is how volunteers collectively characterize the experience the VITA program is providing them.

“It’s much different than the classroom,” she said. “It’s motivating for me because the person I am helping has a situation, they’re stressed. So, my job is to figure it out with what I have learned using my new understanding of taxes.”

Meade considers the volunteer sessions a golden opportunity to enhance his future.

“You learn so much in class, but here you get to apply it with people who actually need your help, especially those who may not be able to afford it,” he said. “It feels good when you go home knowing you’ve helped people.”

Beyond obtaining relevant business skills, students are also improving their interpersonal communication skills.

“Being able to communicate is so necessary as an accountant,” Meade said. “You’ll definitely need these communication skills to talk to new clients, to help understand them.”

Traits that help build resumes and make Hurley smile.

“The students truly learn how to communicate, learn about somebody else and gain life experience,” she said. “That is going to be beneficial no matter what career they choose moving forward.”

VITA volunteers are housed at six locations throughout the Treasure Valley, with the downtown Boise Public Library’s third floor serving as its central hub. Eliza Ruby, an information services manager for the library, said the facility makes for a perfect landing spot for the program.

“Most people know about the program here at the library because it is so well-established,” she said. “People seek us out and we’re happy to share our resources and partner with the college and the community.”

In fact, the partnership has led one longtime client to commit to obtaining certification herself as a tax preparer. Though retired, Bunny Larkin spends about 10 hours weekly volunteering as a program screener and greeter, assisting those who prepare tax returns.

“The volunteers have been so good helping me with tax problems and I felt like I wanted to become a part of this program,” Larkin said. “It’s so worthwhile being able to help take the stress out of doing taxes. Trust me, I know.”

In the final audit, like many other business ventures, the VITA program is focused on one thing: people.

“You’re helping people. That’s the bottom line,” Hurley said. “The IRS sometimes has a bad name with some people, but they’re really just doing their job as best as they can because of the limited resources they have. But this is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.”