Free tax preparation services for the community returns to STC

For 30 years, South Texas College has sought to give back to the community and this year, one of its longest-standing community events returns – the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) program for taxpayers.

The program has long assisted Rio Grande Valle community residents by offering free tax preparation for those who make $60,000 or less, people with disabilities or limited English-speaking taxpayers.

The STC VITA office is now set to reopen Jan. 30 after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. Office hours will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a six-week period until March 10. The office will be located at the Pecan campus, Building T, Room 1.702. Appointments are required.

“This is all about giving our students real-world experience. It’s the reason STC takes this on every year. We are looking for ways to get students into a professional office environment, get them trained and ready to assist with income tax services in the community. It’s about working together as a team,” said STC Accounting Professor John Wilson, who has been the faculty advisor for the program since he began at the college more than 17 years ago. “This is open to anybody who wants to volunteer. Our faculty is also available for guidance and so forth, but mostly we want the students to do it. We take students from any discipline, not just necessarily business or tax students.”

The IRS manages all VITA programs, including the one at STC with the help of the United Way. The sites are also staffed with IRS-certified volunteers who have completed training and can provide tax counseling.

VITA has operated at the college since its inception in 1993, according to Wilson.

On average, STC’s VITA site processes hundreds of tax returns. In 2019, the last time VITA operated on campus due to COVID-19, volunteers helped file more than 500 tax returns for residents.

VITA volunteer and incoming Site Coordinator Nelly Terrazas is a former STC student with the college’s Dual Credit Program, who upon graduating from PSJA North High School received her associate degree in Education before transferring to a four-year university.

Terrazas said she began her journey with VITA as an appointment scheduler.

“The good thing is that we have a lot of volunteers who are here to help. This truly benefits our community. All of us are excited to get trained and get started,” Terrazas said. “This is not what I do in my regular day-to-day, but my sister works with United Way, so this started when I began helping her out. But overall, to help people who are not familiar with income tax and giving them more knowledge about what it means to fill out their tax forms is what I look forward to in my role.”

STC Accounting student Aylin Salinas is starting her second semester at STC, but jumped at the chance to gain experience in the field, she said.

“I just think it’s nice to be able to help the community and give them some knowledge they might not have had prior,” Salinas said. “I grew up in a low-income family and I saw how many people didn’t understand taxes, and they would go somewhere and often pay more than they should have. It’s nice to know there are some free resources here on campus that we can offer the community.”

Those interested in volunteering can visit the next training and orientation on Jan. 27 in Building T at STC’s Pecan Campus, room 1.702 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Appointment for the VITA service is handled through the United Way. Those interested in scheduling an appointment can call the United Way appointment line at 956-607-9030 or visit www.myfreetaxes.com.