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Edison State accounting student Julian Rodriguez, of Troy, prepares taxes at the Partners In Hope VITA
site in Troy. Mask removed for photograph. Masks are required for appointments.
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Edison State Accounting Students Gain Hands-On Experience Preparing Taxes
This semester, students in Edison State Community College’s accounting
program will prepare taxes as part of a service-learning project at the
Partners In Hope site location for the community-at-large, in
partnership with the Dayton Coalition Program (VITA/EITC).
VITA’s origins date back to 1969 with a precursor program at California
State University, Northridge. Such programs have since spread to
thousands of locations across the country, with IRS-certified
volunteers providing free help with tax returns to low- and
moderate-income taxpayers, as well as people with disabilities, the
elderly, and limited English speakers.
“Students are getting real-world training, the IRS provides plenty of
support, and community members receive a valuable service free of
charge,” said Sandra Streitenberger, Associate Professor of Accounting
and Business.
Students must become IRS certified at both the Basic and Advanced Tax
Preparers level in order to assist in the preparation of tax returns.
They are required to volunteer for twenty (20) on-site service-learning
hours, preparing taxes, preparing taxes over the tax season.
“VITA programs give students valuable experience that can help them in
their future careers, as it allows them to work on real tax returns
while also developing non-technical skills. The emphasis on soft skills
can’t be underestimated. Students will learn how to deal with clients
face-to-face, and they’re in a position to deliver good news but also
bad news if the taxpayer owes money,” added Streitenberger.
There are twelve VITA locations across the Miami Valley region. This is
the second year that Edison State has partnered with the Dayton
Coalition and the IRS, but the first year that Miami County will have a
VITA location at Partners In Hope in Troy.
“Partners In Hope is always excited to work with students and their
schools. This is such a wonderful opportunity for students to learn
about their community and an area of the industry that will impact them
in their careers. And we are especially thankful to the students who
are willing to help us with this program,” said Carol Jackson,
Executive Director of Partners In Hope.
VITA locations are all COVID safe and working to ensure the safety of students and the community clients at large.
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