WORCESTER—As tax season approaches its final stretch, students at Quinsigamond Community College are stepping beyond the classroom to help local residents navigate one of the year’s most complicated tasks—filing their taxes.
Through the federally supported Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, QCC students are providing free tax preparation services to individuals and families earning $69,000 or less, gaining hands-on experience while offering a practical service to the community.
After completing in-class training, students host weekly tax preparation sessions under the supervision of Eduardo Rivas, associate professor of accounting at QCC. The work exposes students to real-world scenarios, from helping ride-share drivers understand self-employment rules to explaining changes in tax laws from one year to the next.
“Our students truly go above and beyond in this program,” said Rivas. “It has been great to see their commitment not only to learning, but also to helping the community. Even during spring break and holidays, they continued to volunteer their time. It is also very encouraging to see new students already asking how they can be part of the program next year. This program creates a strong sense of belonging and community, and that is something we are very proud of.”
For many students, the experience has been both educational and personal. They describe learning how to explain tax outcomes, deliver difficult news, and guide clients on how to better prepare for future filings.
“People come here for the knowledge. If they understand why they owe or why they get a refund, that reduces their stress,” said Joshua Roman, a student and second-year volunteer, in the release. “There’s no price on giving back to the community.”
Multilingual skills have also become an important part of the program. Students frequently assist clients in Spanish, Portuguese and other languages, helping make the service more accessible.
“Speaking two languages helps a lot,” said Adriana Nunez Tang, a business student, in the release. “When the client can tell you their feelings, you can communicate better.”
Students say the experience extends beyond accounting, building teamwork, communication and confidence — skills they expect to carry into future careers.
“Taxes are important, but teamwork is too,” Nunez Tang said in the release. “This program has motivated me to believe in myself, do better in life and give my kids a better future.”
For some participants, the volunteer work is already shaping career decisions. Gina Cela-Guallpa, who helps manage intake, scheduling and administrative support for the program, said the experience confirmed her interest in the field.
“I wanted to see what filing taxes would be like and if I’d want to be in this career,” Cela-Guallpa said in the release. “I love it, especially working with people.”
QCC’s VITA services are offered both in person and virtually, with all returns reviewed through a quality-assurance process to ensure accuracy.
