University of Central Arkansas Logo

College of Business

Menu

tax

Accounting Students Volunteer to Prepare Community Tax Returns at United Way

by

This spring UCA Accounting majors participated in the Volunteer Income Tax (VITA) program at United Way of Central Arkansas (UWCA). The VITA program delivers financial support to hundreds of families across Central Arkansas through free tax preparation and filing services. Students participate in this program each year with mentorship from Dr. Ashley Phillips.

 Financial Impact 

  • 414 tax returns prepared
  • Over $440,000 returned to community members through federal and state tax refunds
  • Over $75,000 saved in tax preparation fees
  • Serving households with a median adjusted gross income of approximately $23,500

 Beyond the Numbers

This free service is vital for supporting individuals who might otherwise struggle to afford tax preparation or miss out on critical refunds.  For families struggling to make ends meet, these refunds represent:

  • Relief from mounting bills
  • Critical funds for home repairs, medical expenses, or education
  • Opportunities to build emergency savings

This program delivers support precisely where it’s needed most, helping families move toward greater financial stability and self-sufficiency.

 Community Effort and Investment

 This program is a community effort. UWCA provides VITA site location, resources, financial and administrative support, along with organizing community members as intake volunteers. UCA Accounting department provides accounting majors to prepare tax returns. This experience provides students with invaluable real-world experience. This hands-on training allowed students to:

  • Apply classroom knowledge to actual tax situations
  • Develop client communication skills
  • Navigate tax software and documentation requirements
  • Build professional confidence through meaningful community service

This dual-impact approach not only serves community members in need but also strengthens the professional development of future accountants, creating a powerful educational experience that textbooks alone cannot provide.

 Every dollar returned through the UWCA VITA program strengthens our local economy and enhances the financial resilience of Central Arkansas families. This vital service exemplifies how targeted support can create ripple effects of positive change throughout our communities.

Accounting Professor Ashley Phillips Awarded the Peter J. Mehl Service-Learning Faculty of the Year Award for VITA Program

by

Professor Ashley Phillips of the Accounting Department has been awarded the Peter J. Mehl Service-Learning Faculty of the Year Award for 2021-2022. She partners with the United Way of Central Arkansas to offer the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program to low income taxpayers in our region. Ashley offers a service-learning course for UCA students, who earn the necessary IRS certification, and prepare the tax returns.

UCA accounting students did an amazing job this tax season as part of the VITA program at United Way of Central Arkansas (UWCA). Five UCA accounting majors took the VITA course for credit, and of the five taking it for credit, four volunteered over 80 hours (Macy Dillard, Joseph Howe, Jonathan Humphrey, and Jakob Ligon). There were an additional six UCA accounting majors who volunteered. These students volunteered approximately 420 hours.

UWCA filed 255 federal tax returns as part of the VITA program. UCA accounting students prepared 253 of the 255 returns. These returns brought back over $324,000 to the local community.

Congratulations Ashley!

And way to go VITA student volunteers.