VITA
VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX
ASSISTANCE CLINIC
2022
CSU+ VITA
Collaboration Report
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Dear Friends of the CSU5,
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Programs, in
partnership with the Internal Revenue Service, have long
operated on individual CSU5 campuses to provide free tax
services to individuals and families in Los Angeles County with
low-to-moderate incomes, including the elderly, those with
disabilities and/or those who lack English-language proficiency.
These important tax services are provided by faculty, staff and
trained student volunteers from our respective accounting
departments.
Since the national founding of VITA at CSUN in the early 1970s,
these programs have become some of the most distinguished
and long-standing community service efforts in the CSU5, and
they often serve as best practice models for many other VITA
initiatives across the United States.
By working across the CSU5, VITA has been supercharged.
The CSU5 collaboration has extended our reach into eligible
communities, thus allowing more families in Los Angeles County
to file tax returns and receive California Earned Income Tax
Credits.
Our multi-campus VITA collaboration started with the CSU5 campuses: CSUN, Cal State LA, CSU Dominguez Hills,
Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Long Beach. Today, our effort is known as CSU5+ and includes VITA clinics at
College of the Canyons, Rio Honda College and Mt. San Antonio College.
This important CSU5+ Initiative would not have been possible but for the visionary support of Wells Fargo Bank.
We are grateful to Wells Fargo Bank for making this transformative investment in this innovative and impactful
collaboration. As one reads the report, the CSU5’s engagement with and impact on local communities and the
regional economy shines through. We remain dedicated to improving and enriching the lives of individuals and
families in our communities. The CSU5+ Initiative is sterling evidence of this commitment accompanied by action.
PRESIDENT JANE CLOSE CONOLEY,
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
Jane Close Conoley
President, California State University, Long Beach
On behalf of the CSU5 Presidents:
Thomas A. Parham - President, California State University, Dominguez Hills
William A. Covino - President, California State University, Los Angeles
Erika D. Beck - President, California State University, Northridge
Soraya M. Coley - President, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
1 // 2022 CSU5+ REPORT
CSU5+ VITA CLINICS
With the support of Wells Fargo Bank, in 2022, the CSU5+ Initiative deployed almost 500 student
volunteers, who provided free tax preparation services to more than 9,800 low-income taxpayers. With
over 29,000 hours of student volunteer services, the CSU5+ initiative generated over $13.1 million in tax
refunds, as well as over $3.6 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.
WHAT IS VITA?
The Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) program is an
Internal Revenue Service initiative to
provide free tax preparation service
for low income taxpayers through
various partner organizations. The
first VITA clinic on a Cal State
University campus was formed at
CSUN in the 1970s.
WHAT IS CSU5 AND THE CSU5
VITA COLLABORATION?
CSU5 fosters collaboration across
the five CSU campuses in Los
Angeles County: CSUDH, Cal Poly
Pomona, Cal State LA, Cal State
Long Beach and CSUN. Through
CSU5’s VITA Collaboration, directors
of VITA clinics across the campuses
work together to coordinate and
expand their programs.
WHAT IS CSU5+ VITA
COLLABORATION?
As VITA programs expand to
community college sites, CSU5 has
become CSU5+. Now, university-
based programs collaborate with
VITA clinics at College of the
Canyons, Rio Hondo College, Mt. San
Antonio College. The CSU5+ Vita
Collaboration encompasses eight
college and university campuses
across Los Angeles County.
STATS
CSU+ TOTAL
NUMBER OF TAXPAYERS SERVED
9370
5677
9877
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
1 00 00
1 20 00
2019 2020 2022
CSU+ VITA:
TOTAL NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS
948
221
496
0
1 00
2 00
3 00
4 00
5 00
6 00
7 00
8 00
9 00
1000
2020 2021 2022
Federal
$3,099,539
State $566,720
TOTAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS: $3.66
MILLION
Federal
$10,946,151
State $2,141,798
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS: $13.3 MILLION
CSU+ TOTAL HOURS OF SERVICE PROVIDED: ,
2
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS:
$ MILLION
TOTAL EARNED INCOME
TAX CREDITS: $. MILLION
5
v
WELLS FARGO’S TRANSFORMATIVE
GIFT EXPANDS CSUN VITA CLINIC
In 2022, Wells Fargo has awarded California State
University, Northridge a two-year $200,000 grant to help
expand the university’s income tax preparation assistance
program for low-income families and individuals.
The funding will enable CSUN’s VITA Clinic to operate
year-round and also help the CSU5+ VITA Initiative
– comprised of other CSUs and community colleges
– develop and grow their VITA operations. Finally, the
grant will support CSUN VITA Clinic’s financial coaching
services in the community.
“Well Fargo Bank’s continued support of the CSUN VITA
Clinic has been immensely critical for the clinic’s growth
for the past four years,” said accounting professor Rafi
Efrat, director of the CSUN VITA Clinic and Bookstein
Institute for Higher Education in Taxation. “With their
steadfast generosity, we were able to expand the free tax
preparation services and financial coaching offered to
low-income taxpayers.”
“Wells Fargo is proud to support CSUN’s VITA Clinic,”
said Jack Olree, Wells Fargo Vice President for the
Southern California Social Impact group. “We are pleased
that through our donation we will be able to provide
assistance to local residents with no-cost tax services and
financial advice.”
Earlier this year, more than 230 CSUN student volunteers
completed an intensive training program on handling
federal and state tax returns. With Wells Fargo’s
support, the CSUN VITA Clinic helped more than 7,300
taxpayers during this tax season, serving the most
taxpayers of 6,600 VITA sites operated nationally in
2022.
The CSUN VITA Clinic also offers students an
opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in their
field of study.
Jose Oliva, operations supervisor, played an integral role
during this tax season. He and his team directly trained
volunteers, organized presentations and helped other
CSUs and community colleges with the launch and
operations of their VITA clinics. Oliva, now in his third
year with the CSUN VITA Clinic, first started his journey
as a tax preparer, then climbed his way to operations
supervisor.
“As an accounting major, I first heard about the CSUN
VITA Clinic through a fellow peer and I immediately
fell in love with the program,” said Oliva. “I developed
a passion for the program and knew this is something
that I wanted to learn and grow in.”
“With the VITA Clinic operating six days per week
during the tax season and serving over 7,300 taxpayers,
recruiting dedicated student volunteers was especially
important for a successful operation this year,” said
Oliva. “Wells Fargo Bank helped make the goal a reality.”
CSUN VITA CLINIC RANKED
NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY
14,003
16,603
28,274
0
5000
1 0000
1 5000
2 0000
2 5000
3 0000
2020 2021 2022
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
HOURS RENDERED
221
238
2 10
2 15
2 20
2 25
2 30
2 35
2 40
2021 2022
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS
5,412
5,677
7,346
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
2020 2021 2022
TAXPAYERS SERVED
Powered by more than 230 student volunteers, the
CSUN VITA Clinic has far exceeded its results
from last year by almost 30 percent. During the just
concluded tax season, students at the clinic have
offered in person and virtual tax preparation services
to over 7,300 low-income taxpayers. This is more than
18 times as many taxpayers served compared to the tax
season in 2015, when fewer than 370 taxpayers were
served.
These efforts have made a tremendous impact on the
lives of the taxpayers served. For example, CSUN VITA
Clinic has:
•Saved local residents an estimated $1.3 in tax
preparation fees. This is money the taxpayers
can divert to other basic necessities.
•Returned over $8.8 million in federal and state
refunds back into our community, thereby
boosting our local economy.
•Helped workers claim more than $2.6 million in
federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits,
thereby empowering people to move out of
poverty.
Most dramatically, the CSUN VITA Clinic was ranked as
the top VITA site among over 690 sites in California.
CSUN VITA Clinic served far more taxpayers than all
4-year universities in the state combined. And for the
first time in our 51 years history, CSUN VITA Clinic
was ranked the top VITA program in the nation (6,600
VITA sites operated nationally this past tax season).
From Jan. 23 through April 18, dedicated volunteers
were available six days per week and up to 12 hours
per day. This CSUN VITA Clinic re-launched the CSU5+
Initiative. This initiative fosters the unique collaborative
arrangement for the 5 CSU campuses in Los Angeles
County along with several community colleges to
cultivate student civic engagement and advance their
clinical skills, while making a difference in the lives of
countless individuals throughout Los Angeles County.
A transformative two-year $200,000 grant from Wells
Fargo Bank provided critical support for the offering of
tax preparation and community outreach services year-
round. It also enables the CSUN VITA Clinic to make
long term plans to further expand and enrich the clinic’s
operations. Finally, it infuses the CSUN VITA Clinic
with resources needed to institutionalize the CSU5+
Initiative.
Financial help from the Los Angeles Department of
Water and Power has enabled us to offer assistance
to people who cannot get a Social Security Number
by furnishing them with an Individual Taxpayer
Identification Number (ITIN), which is a tax processing
number issued by the IRS. Also, with the help of City
National Bank, the CSUN VITA Clinic was able to offer
Spanish interpretation services at all of its seven sites.
Our success was made possible by the dedication,
commitment and hard work of our student volunteers.
Thanks to the endowment created by Harriet and
Harvey Bookstein several years ago, the CSUN VITA
Clinic recognized the exceptional work of 5 volunteers
with $1,000 scholarships each.
4
THE CSULB VITA CLINIC,
YEARS IN THE MAKING
CSULB VITA STUDENTS
For over 50
years, California
State University,
Long Beach VITA
clinic has
provided free tax
preparation
services to Long
Beach community
members. Thanks
to the CSU5+
Initiative, which
connected CSU
VITA clinics
throughout Los
Angeles County,
CSULB’s program
has grown.
More than $1M refunds
“Pre-COVID, we crossed over a million dollars in refunds
to clients,” said Sudha Krishnan, CSULB Department of
Accountancy chair and VITA faculty. “This initiative has
helped us identify our positive practices — what works
and what doesn’t. From just doing that, we’ve been able
to grow and work to pump refunds back into the Long
Beach community.”
For the first time this tax season, CSULB VITA clinic has
worked to provide free ITIN application preparation. An
ITIN — Individual Tax Identification Number — allows
those taxpayers without citizenship to file taxes,
receive
refunds and claim dependents on their tax
returns.
“Big plans” for the future
CSULB VITA clinic filed almost 700 returns this tax
season with hopes that, as the pandemic dies down, the
number will continue to grow every tax season.
“We have big plans for the next tax seasons to come,’”
said Krishnan. “We want to send a VITA postcard to tax
clients to remind them every year to file their taxes at
our clinics. This will help get the word out to the rest of
the Long Beach community.”
As the pandemic raged in 2021, CSULB VITA Clinic
had to think of new ways to get its services to clients
without putting them at risk of catching COVID-19. The
clinic began offering a drop-off method for clients to
leave their tax documents at the VITA office and receive
their returns 24 to 48 hours later.
In addition, clients can also use the VITA clinic’s secure
Zoom application which keeps client tax information
completely confidential.
Life and career skills while helping clients
As clients receive tax preparation services, student
volunteers also learn important career and life skills as
tax preparers and service coordinators.
“Students get to work on their soft skills at our clinic,”
said Krishnan. “They work on their communication,
leadership and professional skills while also thinking
about what a career in tax could potentially look
like. The VITA program is an invaluable resource to
community members and students alike.
CSULA VITA CLINIC, THE GOLDEN EAGLE OF LA
Federal
$1,236,878
State $251,698
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS: $1.4 MILLION
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS GENERATED
Federal
$286,538
State $49,603
TOTAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS:
$336,141
TOTAL EARNED INCOME
TAX CREDITS GENERATED
For over 40 years, California State University, Los
Angeles (CSULA) has provided free tax preparation
services to community members in the Los Angeles area.
“Since we have been in operation for so long, many
members of the community rely on us to provide
accurate and free income tax preparation services,” said
John Cooper, assistant professor at CSULA and head of
its VITA clinic. “We have clients who have been coming
to our campus for tax services for many years.”
Clinic continues legacy of community involvement
In 2021, COVID-19 forced CSULA to move its tax
preparation services to a digital format for the 2020 tax
year. While this solved a temporary problem, many clients
faced difficulty adapting to the technology. This year,
CSULA VITA Clinic adopted a hybrid system to provide
in-person services as well as remote support for those
clients at risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.
“Returning to campus has been the most exciting part of
this year’s VITA clinic,” said Cooper. “We’re meeting with
clients and returning to some type of normalcy.”
With the help of 84 student volunteers, CSULA VITA
clinic has completed the returns over 870 low-income
taxpayers during the just concluded tax season. Though
clinic students had a late start because the campus was
closed for the first three weeks of the semester, they
jumped right into tax preparation for the tax season once
they were back on campus.
For the 2021 tax year, CSULA VITA tax preparation
resulted in over $1.4 million in tax refunds that went
directly back to the community.
Cooperation gives clinic an edge in virtual transition
According to Cooper, the CSULA VITA clinic collaborates
closely with the clinic at CSUN. “We often turn to CSUN
for guidance when we meet new challenges,” he noted.
“For example, when we were navigating the transition
to virtual services a year ago, they were very helpful in
implementing a new approach to VITA services.”
Real-world experience for student volunteers
While the CSULA VITA Clinic has had a tremendous
impact on the local community, there is another
benefit to the program: “VITA provides volunteers with
real-world experience in providing professional tax
preparation,” said Cooper. “For many of them, this is their
first experience being a professional. VITA will most
certainly give them that edge they need as they prepare
to graduate and find careers of their own.”
CSULA VITA STUDENTS IN ACTION
For over 50 years, California State
University, Long Beach VITA clinic
has provided free tax preparation
services to Long Beach community
members. Thanks to the CSU5+
Initiative, which connected CSU
VITA clinics throughout Los Angeles
County, CSULB’s program has grown.
6
Federal
$248,264
State $44,889
TOTAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT: $293,153
Federal
$1,081,550
State $161,809
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS $1.24 MILLION
TOTAL EARNED INCOME
TAX CREDITS GENERATED
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS GENERATED
IMPACTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
- CAL POLY POMONA VITA CLINIC
Federal
$419,452
State $83,336
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS: $502,788
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS GENERATED
Federal
$120,630
State $26,749
TOTAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS:
$147,379
TOTAL EARNED INCOME
TAX CREDITS GENERATED
For the 2021 tax year, the California State Polytechnic
University, Pomona VITA Clinic prepared free tax returns
for more than 250 residents of Pomona and surrounding
communities.
“We try [to] provide the best possible tax services
we can to the community,” said the clinic’s director,
Professor Mohamed Gomaa. “We’ve had people who file
their taxes every year at our site. Taxpayers depend on
our services because they don’t have to worry about
paying high tax filing fees while also knowing they are
receiving professional tax services.”
In-person and virtual options
The Cal Poly VITA clinic operates from its main site
on campus. Clients can also choose to do their taxes
entirely virtually, easing concerns for those who are at
high risk for COVID-19, since they can still rely on Cal
Poly’s VITA clinic for tax services, said Gomaa.
Twenty one student volunteers participate in the Cal
Poly VITA Clinic, eleven as tax preparers and the rest as
lead supervisors.
Students gain professional experience
While the VITA clinic provides a great benefit to the
community, student volunteers also benefit from getting
a glimpse into the accounting profession.
“Students get to see what a career in tax preparation
might offer,” said Gomaa. “We’ve had many volunteers
come through our clinic who gain real-world experience
in accounting. They learn many soft skills such as
communication, client relations and tax experience.
We’ve had so many students who’ve come as volunteers
become CPAs themselves.”
When clients come into Cal Poly’s VITA Clinic, they’re
asked to bring in all of their tax documents for the
year. When filing their returns virtually, tax preparers
use a secure Zoom application to keep clients’ personal
information confidential. In most cases, clients can file
same-day tax returns.
Collaboration among clinics
To provide the most efficient tax services possible,
Gomaa sends a monthly report to CSUN’s VITA Clinic.
This enables
CSUN and Cal
Poly VITA clinics
to collaborate
on the best tax
preparation
strategies for
clients.
“I personally
enjoy the position
greatly,” said
Gomaa. “It feels
great to see the
impact we’re
making on the
local community.”
MOHAMED GOMAA, PH.D., DIRECTOR
OF THE CPP’S VITA PROGRAM
THE CLINIC IN THE HILLS:
VITA CLINIC DOMINGUEZ HILLS
Federal $47,120
State $8,327
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS: $55,447
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS GENERATED
Federal
$286,538
State $49,603
TOTAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS:
$336,141
TOTAL EARNED INCOME
TAX CREDITS GENERATED
The VITA clinic at California State University, Dominguez
Hills recently completed a successful year, prepared over
157 tax returns for the 2021 tax year for community
members.
Making a difference in the community
According to CSUDH VITA clinic operations supervisor
Professor Arek Arakelian, the clinic’s main focus is making
an impact on the community.
“We have taxpayers coming in year after year.” said
Arakelian. “A lot of our clients come from low-income
backgrounds, which means that they can’t afford to pay
high tax preparations fees for simple returns. This is
money they need to pay bills and support their families.”
Collaborating to provide efficient services
CSUDH VITA clinic has collaborated with CSUN VITA
clinic in an effort to create the best and most efficient
tax preparation services. Whether it’s borrowing training
materials like manuals and videos or talking to CSUN
VITA coordinators about tax preparation procedures, the
two clinics are working together to ensure that CSUDH
VITA provides proficient professional tax preparation
services for as many clients as possible.
“CSUN has been a great resource for us regarding the
VITA program,” said Arakelian. “This relationship has gone
back for four years. We’ve had incredible and productive
cooperation with our clients and the impact it has on the
VITA program shows it.”
Volunteering leads to accounting careers
Six student volunteers and six volunteers from the
community work together on the CSUDH VITA clinic
team. All volunteers gain real world experience in the tax
field and learn important professional soft skills, such as
communication, researching and answering tax questions
and leadership.
“The volunteers get an inside look into the tax world,”
said Arakelian. “You know we have many seniors who
join our team and wished they would have done it
sooner. A lot of our volunteers graduate and have
successful careers in accounting.”
Due to COVID-19, the CSUDH VITA Clinic had to halt
operations last year, but now, as things return to “normal,”
the clinic has had great success implementing different
strategies for taxpayers to file returns, including virtual
and in-person tax preparation.
In the coming years, Arakelian hopes to develop the
program even further by infusing the VITA experience
into the upper-division tax curriculum for all accounting
students.
CSUDH VITA STUDENTS
8
IMAGE PLACE HOLDER
THE CLINIC IN THE CANYONS:
COLLEGE OF THE CANYON’S VITA CLINIC
Federal
$112,248
State $39,083
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS: $151,331
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS GENERATED
Federal
$22,202
State $15,542
TOTAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS:
$37,744
TOTAL EARNED INCOME
TAX CREDITS GENERATED
Since its founding four years ago by Chair of the
Business Department Ali Naddafpour, the College of the
Canyons VITA Clinic has grown into a full-fledged tax
preparation site, offering free tax preparation services to
the Los Angeles County community.
But Naddafpour’s VITA experience goes back much
further.
“I first started my own VITA clinic back in the 1990’s at
Pierce College, as a student,” said Naddafpour. “I fell in
love with the services we offer because at one point, I
was the one who needed the services.”
Students give back to their community
The College of the Canyons VITA Clinic is run entirely
by Naddafpour and his team of 12 certified student
volunteer tax preparers.
“Our volunteers are not here for grade as a part of a
course or class,” said Naddafpour. “They’re here purely to
provide invaluable services as volunteers, to give back
and to help their community.”
With over 100 tax returns filed, the COC VITA Clinic’s
main goal has been to provide their services to more
clients each tax season.
“Though COVID-19 slowed our progress the last couple
years,” said Naddafpour, “we’ve worked closely to rebuild
our clinic so we can offer more tax services to clients. All
of our volunteers acquired advanced level of certification
by the IRS.”
Going above and beyond
With his background, it’s no surprise that Naddafpour
takes his commitment to VITA beyond clinic hours. If
COC VITA Clinic clients still have questions after the
weekly Clinic, Naddafpour invites them to his office
hours for additional tax help with issues that couldn’t be
resolved during their scheduled appointments.
Efficient client experience
Clients who come to the COC VITA clinic can expect
an efficient process that honors their privacy. The COC
VITA clinic is conducted in a large classroom with three
subsections for various stages in the tax preparation
process. The first section is for intake. Volunteers in the
second and third areas help clients with tax preparation
and tax return review.
“Clients often come into our clinic with positive
attitudes,” said Naddafpour. “They are excited to learn
about ways to improve their finances.
COLLEGE OF THE
CANYON’S VITA STUDENTS
MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT
RIO HONDO COLLEGE VITA CLINIC
Federal
$203,844
State $42,735
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS: $246,579
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS GENERATED
Federal $57,160
State $11,022
TOTAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS:
$68,182
TOTAL EARNED INCOME
TAX CREDITS GENERATED
The VITA clinic at Rio Hondo College has helped
thousands of clients since it started in 2013, but
Professor Jeannie Liu, director of the clinic, remembers
one in particular.
“One year, we had a homeless student who lived with
friends and would go to school at the same time and
needed to get his taxes filed,” recalled Liu. “Once they
were filed, he was able to use his refund to buy himself
his basic necessities. He was so grateful for the program
that he even came back to volunteer the year after and
eventually earned a degree in accounting and went on to
become a certified public accountant.”
Service to the community
Although this story is remarkable, it is just one example
of the impact RHC VITA Clinic has had on students and
community members by providing free tax preparation
services.
“Our community knows that they can come to RHC every
year to get their taxes done for free,” said Liu. “This gives
them a reassurance that we are here to help those in
need with our services.”
Students benefit from training
Not only does the RHC VITA program provide an
important benefit for the community, it also trains
students, including the 21 volunteers this year, for
real world careers in taxes and finance. In their time
participating in the clinic, students gain practical skills
and knowledge that will help them succeed in their
prospective careers. Before they become tax preparers,
all volunteers must take a six-week certification class.
Beyond this training in tax preparation, the clinic also
helps students learn interpersonal skills, problem solving,
and leadership as they directly interact with taxpayers
and answer their income tax questions.
“This program is invaluable to our students,” said Liu.
“Not many programs offer hands-on experience like
VITA.”
Putting money back in client’s pocket
“The average taxpayer might spend around $200
to $400 for tax preparation depending if they’re an
individual or self-employed,” said Liu. “Our clinic works
to put that money directly back into their pockets each
year.”
With more than 140 tax returns filed for the 2021 tax
year, the RHC VITA clinic has put money back into a lot
of community members’ pockets.
RIO HONDO COLLEGE’S VITA STUDENTS
SERVING TAXPAYERS
10
13
REBUILDING VITA AT MT. ST. ANTONIO COLLEGE
Federal
$345,242
State $62,059
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS: $407,301
TOTAL TAX REFUNDS GENERATED
Federal,
$286,538
State, $49,603
TOTAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS:
$336,141
TOTAL EARNED INCOME
TAX CREDITS GENERATED
“Mt. SAC VITA Clinic is back in business,” said Professor
Steven Valdes, coordinator of Mt. St. Antonio Community
College VITA Clinic. “The community desperately needed
our services and it feels great to finally get to serve them
again.”
Due to COVID-19, Mt. SAC VITA Clinic halted its free tax
preparation services in 2021. But as the pandemic waned
and the campus regained some normalcy, Mt. SAC VITA
Clinic came back full throttle.
Operating directly out of Mt. SAC’s classrooms, the clinic
worked hard this spring to provide free tax preparation
services to local taxpayers. With over 300 tax taxpayers
completed by the end of the tax season, the clinic has
successfully served residents in the community.
Getting the word out
“We’re focusing on rebuilding,” said Valdes. “We want
to get the word out in our community that our VITA
clinic is open. Whether that’s through advertising,
flyers, government websites or word of mouth, we’re
doing everything we can to grow our clinic back to pre-
pandemic standards.”
With the clinic reopening, student volunteers once
again had the opportunity to gain valuable real world
experience through the VITA clinic and see what a career
in accounting or finance might look like.
According to Valdes, an important part of the
clinic experience for student volunteers is learning
interpersonal skills such as communications, crisis
management and leadership.
The Mt. SAC VITA Clinic currently has over 40 volunteers
operating multiple facets of the clinic.
In order to qualify to be a student volunteer tax preparer
in VITA, students must take a six-week VITA certification
course. This ensures that not only are students qualified
to prepare taxes, but also that clients get professional
and competent tax services.
Providing value for
the community
“This is an amazing
service to the
community and
I’m glad we’re
able to get things
going again,” said
Valdes. “Many of
our clients are
low income and
that makes our
services that much
important. We’re
trying to get their
money back into
their hands.”
MT. SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE’S
VITA STUDENTS
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
12
Bookstein Institute for Higher Education in Taxation
David Nazarian College of Business and Economics
Department of Accounting
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8372
(818) 677-3600 [email protected] csun.edu/VITA
