The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Santa Clara University prepares students to file free federal and state tax returns for low-and moderate-income earning individuals and families.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Santa Clara University prepares students to file free federal and state tax returns for low-and moderate-income earning individuals and families. Supervised by faculty in the Department of Accounting, students pass the IRS-sponsored VITA Certification Exam, learn about the beneficial tax policies in relation to socioeconomic inequality, and volunteer at various VITA sites in the South Bay Area.
Key benefits include:
• Applied Learning: Students bridge classroom knowledge with real-world tax preparation, reinforcing tax concepts while gaining hands-on experience with tax laws, forms, and filing procedures.
• Professional Skill Building: VITA fosters essential workplace skills such as client communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Students practice professional etiquette, collaborate with industry experts, and develop confidence in navigating diverse tax scenarios.
• Community Engagement & Social Impact: VITA students promote financial literacy and make a meaningful impact in the community.
VITA will be offered as ACTG 197 in Winter 2026. The course is 3 units. The prerequisite is ACTG 138 Tax, which can be taken concurrently. If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please reach out to Christine Lebar at clebar@scu.edu.