VSU Students Offer Free Tax Help to 68K Georgians

Tax season doesn't have to mean expensive preparation fees, especially for families already watching every dollar.

Fifteen Valdosta State University students are volunteering their expertise to prepare federal and state tax returns completely free for South Georgia residents earning under $68,675 a year. The accounting and finance majors have all passed advanced IRS certification training and are ready to help families keep more money in their pockets this tax season.

This marks the seventh year VSU has partnered with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. The service kicked off February 3rd, offering walk-in appointments every Tuesday evening from 4 to 7 p.m. and Friday mornings from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Health Sciences and Business Administration Building.

Sergio Perez-Sifuentes, president of VSU's Beta Alpha Psi chapter, calls it a perfect example of community service meeting real-world learning. "This program provides free, reliable tax assistance to individuals and families who may not otherwise have access to professional services," he explained. "At the same time, it gives students hands-on experience working with real clients."

The students aren't just checking boxes on tax forms. Each volunteer maintains IRS standards for privacy and confidentiality, and every return goes through a quality review before filing. Nothing gets submitted without the taxpayer's final approval.

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches far beyond individual tax returns. Families who save $200 or $300 on preparation fees can put that money toward groceries, utilities, or emergency savings. Students gain practical skills that make them workforce-ready before graduation. And the community builds trust with a program that speaks English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, and Russian.

Dr. Candace Witherspoon and Dr. Raymond Elson supervise the volunteers, ensuring professional standards while letting students shine. No appointments are necessary, making the service accessible to anyone who can show up with their tax documents, Social Security numbers, photo ID, and bank information for direct deposit.

For Perez-Sifuentes, now pursuing his MBA after earning two bachelor's degrees from VSU, the program represents something bigger than tax forms. It's proof that education works best when it serves others, and that small acts of service create lasting change in communities that need it most.