UTA students turn tax season into payback
On weekday afternoons during tax season, University of Texas at Arlington accounting students can be found inside Arlington libraries—not studying for exams but helping residents file their taxes.
Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, UTA students help people navigate the tax filing process free of charge. For many in the community, the assistance offers relief from a task that can feel confusing and stressful and expensive.
Patrick Jannes, a senior accounting major at UTA, is one of the volunteers. After learning about the program in one of his courses, he decided to apply what he had learned in the classroom by giving back to the community.
“It’s totally nonprofit,” Jannes said, “and it helps people who might not be able to afford tax preparation services.”
The program is part of a broader partnership between UTA and United Way of Tarrant County, which has offered free income tax preparation assistance through its VITA program since 2010.
Jannes assists taxpayers at locations such as the East Arlington Library, where he works directly with residents to complete their tax returns using specialized software. Each return is reviewed by a site coordinator before submission to ensure accuracy.
For accounting students, the program provides valuable real-world experience that complements classroom learning.
“You’re working with people and learning how to navigate a software system you’ve never used before,” Jannes said. “Those are skills that are useful no matter what level of accounting you’re working in.”
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“The classroom helps, but doing it yourself is different,” he said. “Once you finish a return and step back, you start connecting it to things you learned in class.”
Seonjae Kim, also a UTA accounting student and VITA volunteer, said the experience has been both meaningful and rewarding.
“Doing tax returns is something many people don’t want to deal with, and can be burdensome for different reasons,” Kim said. “Being able to help them and explain things in a way that makes sense has been very rewarding.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering, Kim said, has been interacting with the people he assists.
“From the moment they enter to when they leave, I try to create a comfortable and communicative environment,” he said “Seeing them leave with appreciation is very fulfilling.”
Families and individuals with household incomes of $69,000 or less can visit VITA sites across Tarrant County to receive help filing their returns and better understand their tax obligations.
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The success of the program relies on IRS-certified volunteers and staff members who prepare returns and help residents understand tax credits that may benefit them. In addition to helping residents secure refunds, volunteers also save families money in tax preparation fees. On average, VITA clients receive about $1,700 in refunds each year.
Kim encourages other UTA students—particularly those studying accounting, finance, or related fields—to consider volunteering.
“It’s a great way to learn technical skills, gain real-world experience and serve the community,” he said.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.