Student volunteers save local taxpayers more than $63K in tax prep fees

a group of students from the VITA program sit on a table and smile Students in Monticello High School Academy of Finance’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program have wrapped up another successful tax season. This year, student volunteers have prepared 246 tax returns for community members, saving these taxpayers more than $63K in tax preparation fees.

The VITA program, now in its 11th year at Monticello, enables students to gain useful, real-life experience while giving back to their community. The service is free for taxpayers below a certain income threshold (the limit changes from year to year; this year it was $55k). Students become IRS-certified prior to volunteering for the program.