Senior accounting major Ethan Gordon has volunteered with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program for the past two years. He’s one of a record 67 students, mainly from the business school, who are helping seniors and other community members complete their taxes by the April 15 deadline.

“I chose to volunteer because I wanted to combine my interest in helping others with my accounting education,” said Gordon, who hails from Scituate, Massachusetts. “I’ve always enjoyed working with taxes, and VITA gave me a meaningful way to support my community while gaining hands-on experience in the field.”

Cara Cardotti, director of the tax assistance program for the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, said volunteers are central to their tax assistance program. This year marks the 14th consecutive time that the University has operated its own tax site in collaboration with the organization, providing support to the community with the help of UR students.

“In 2024 alone, volunteers helped over 3,300 community members recover $3.6 million in tax refunds and save more than $845,500 in preparation fees, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of this program,” Cardotti said.

The United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg’s Tax Assistance Program operates 12 tax preparation sites in the region. Families and individuals with an income of $67,000 or less may schedule an appointment or walk in for assistance.

The Bonner Center for Civic Engagement’s University of Richmond tax prep site at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Richmond is one of the 12 sites. UR students also volunteer at the tax clinics at the Sacred Heart Center, where they provide Spanish translation services when needed, as well as at North Park Library, Broad Rock Library, and the Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People organization. Additionally, CCE holds on-campus tax preparation clinics for students, faculty, and staff.

Sasha Hollister, CCE’s assistant director of community relationships and place-based engagement, is the St. Paul’s site coordinator. She expects the Spiders will serve over 400 people this year and provide at least $300,000 in refunds.

“The value of community-based learning is immeasurable for our student volunteers,” Hollister said. “We hope that through their experience in this program, they cultivate a sense of civic responsibility that will follow them throughout their lives.”

Students can become IRS-certified by taking three Robins School of Business classes taught by visiting accounting instructor CPA Jordyn Farizo. The training covers the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or Disabled. This year, so many students signed up that there was a waitlist.

For Gordon, volunteering means guiding people through a process that can seem overwhelming. “One woman I helped was experiencing a lot of stress. She had been taking care of her sick mother and didn’t realize that many of the medical expenses she paid out of pocket were deductible. We worked together to itemize her deductions, significantly reducing the amount she owed,” he said.

“She was so thankful. It really showed me how important this work is.”