Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)

Thirty years ago Champlain College accounting professor Champ Soncrant didn't have to think twice when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) asked if he would get students involved in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). Today, he still speaks passionately about Champlain College's commitment to the program. VITA is a governmental program that offers free tax help for low-to-moderate income taxpayers, elderly taxpayers, and military personnel and their families.

Soncrant and the students are involved working primarily with low-to-moderate income taxpayers. "It's a group effort, but the students are the real heroes here, they are the ones who do the work." Soncrant said. Students from any academic major can become volunteers. Soncrant leads a three-day workshop that teaches the fundamentals of tax returns. At the end of the three days, students take an exam and if they pass they become VITA volunteers. Students are placed in small groups and sent to local community centers with site coordinators where they can get hands-on experience.

Currently, 30 Champlain College students are involved in the program. "I was worried that it wasn't going to be fun or exciting, but I find myself waking up every Saturday morning wanting to do these taxes. That is when you know you have found something truly worth all of this attention," explains Colleen Robie, an accounting major.

Soncrant's students receive one credit on their transcripts for 40 hours of volunteer work. Every year he pitches the idea to his students and usually about 80 percent of the class raises their hands. "I have never had a problem getting people to volunteer, it is very impressive, Soncrant said.

Robyn Bahar, the site coordinator at Casey Family Services, says that the Champlain College students who volunteer there are really invested in the program. Casey Family Services has provided tax help for VITA qualifiers for the past seven years. They are able to effectively execute the program with help from students, who make up about 75 percent of the volunteers there. "Tax time is stressful and this program takes a big burden off of people," Bahar said. Casey has even created workshops that advise people what to do with their tax refunds. "It gives families opportunities to create savings bonds and open saving accounts so they can become financially stable," and according to Bahar, families who spend less time worrying about money are better able to focus on quality time with their children.

“This experience requires a large time commitment of training and service. Students must become familiar with federal and state tax laws and with the computer software we use,” says Bahar, “We rely on your students to keep our program going, and local families rely on them for one of the most important financial opportunities of the year.”

During the 2010 tax season, 30 Champlain students made up half the team of 60 volunteers in the Vermont Chittenden County area who: served over 1,580 clients; e-filed over 1280 tax returns; helped return almost $2 million in federal and state refunds to the community; helped clients to save $9800 with 41 savings bonds purchased; helped to open 11 new savings accounts into which clients deposited $14,629.

"It is the kind of stuff you don't find in a classroom," Soncrant said. He goes on to say "that facial expression from a taxpayer who just realized that they are getting money back is incredible, it's significant to them and it's amazing."