College Volunteers File 1,224 Free Tax Returns in Virginia

Filing taxes shouldn't cost money you don't have, and in Charlottesville, Virginia, it doesn't have to.

Through Madison House at the University of Virginia, student volunteers filed 1,224 federal tax returns last year completely free of charge. The program, called CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope), serves both students and community members who earn less than $89,000 annually.

Every volunteer receives official IRS training and becomes Volunteer Income Tax Assistance certified before meeting with clients. They learn to use professional software called TaxSlayer, the same tools that expensive services charge for. Their goal is simple: maximize refunds and minimize what people owe.

The students logged over 3,600 volunteer hours last tax season. Martha Trujillo, assistant director of finance and operations for Madison House, coordinates an IRS grant that funds the technology and equipment. "The more volunteers participate, the better humans they are becoming," she said.

Former volunteer Teddy Cullinane, who graduated in 2026, remembers the variety of cases that walked through the door. Some clients brought straightforward W-2 forms that took minutes to process. Others arrived with documents he'd never seen before, requiring creative problem solving and teamwork with other volunteers.

One client hadn't filed taxes in five years. Head program director Akane Ginhoux Ozawa met with him six times, sorting through boxes of paperwork at each session. When all five years of returns finally got accepted, the relief was visible on his face.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond saving community members hundreds of dollars in filing fees, CASH creates something unexpected: real connections between university students and local residents. Volunteers sit face to face with neighbors, learning their stories while helping them navigate confusing forms.

Former head program director Saahas Gowda worked to recruit volunteers from across campus, not just business students. A diverse team means better problem solving when clients bring unique situations that training didn't cover.

The in-person service lets volunteers witness the moment stress turns to relief. Cullinane watched clients walk in worried and leave smiling, sometimes with refund checks that meant groceries, car repairs, or breathing room in tight budgets. "It's really awesome," he said.

The program is now accepting applications for the upcoming school year, ready to train another wave of volunteers who'll turn tax season from stressful to manageable for hundreds of families.