UM-Flint students provide the community with economic stability, one tax filing at a time

Students from the University of Michigan-Flint's School of Management are helping local residents achieve financial well-being by providing them with free tax filing services. Each student is guided by Qiu "Autumn" Zheng, the university's new Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program instructor and assistant professor of accounting.

"I'm honored to serve as the VITA program instructor, and I'm proud to be part of this ongoing work at the School of Management, providing accessible, high-quality tax services, giving back to the Flint community and creating meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities for our students," Zheng said.

UM-Flint's VITA program is coordinated by the United Way of Genesee County. Tax filing locations include the:

Community Benefits

VITA allows individuals earning $69,000 or less to claim their income tax refunds for free if they overpaid the government. The program also helps those who owe taxes avoid IRS penalties, fines and interest. If left unchecked, potential consequences could escalate into a:

Poor credit rating.
"Tax lien," or a legal claim against one's property.
"Tax levy," or the seizure of property to settle a tax debt.

Lola Wright of Mt. Morris expressed gratitude for VITA during her visit to the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library on March 14. She had previously attended a VITA event where a long line had formed, so volunteers scheduled an appointment with her on a later date. Without the appointment, she questioned what she might have done.

"I probably would've had to skip a year," said Wright, who instead will benefit from a tax refund. "Usually, I file my taxes at the employment office, but they stopped doing it there."

Wright added that she felt fortunate to secure an appointment, saying, "I thought it was awesome; I'm hoping that they continue it."

SOM will continue VITA under Zheng's leadership. It also intends to increase volunteerism as the university's enrollment continues to rise.

Student Benefits

Students benefit from VITA because it allows them to earn 3 credit hours following completion of the "Income Tax Preparation" course, which is available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. VITA also provides students with IRS certification and work experience, enhancing their computer, interpersonal and tax preparation skills.

A young woman with long, wavy brown hair parted to the side looks directly at the camera with a gentle smile. She has light skin and blue eyes, and she is wearing a dark-blue top and a silver necklace with a small pendant. — *Huffman*

Caroline Huffman, a senior accounting major from Flushing, participated in VITA following a four-month internship at Maner Costerisan, a public accounting firm in Lansing. Her experience working on clients' taxes left her feeling prepared to volunteer.

"What I quickly learned, however, is that the taxes I had experience with were a completely different ball game," said Huffman, one of the university's latest Maize and Blue Distinguished Scholar Award recipients. "Low-income taxes require an entirely different set of knowledge, so my research skills have greatly improved, and I learned a new tax program."

A professional portrait of a woman with short, dark hair and a bright smile. She is wearing a mustard-yellow blazer over a maroon blouse and small hoop earrings. The background features a window overlooking blurred green and orange trees. — *Slappy*

Tomika Slappy, a graduate student majoring in accounting from Flint who also earned a bachelor's degree from UM-Flint in 2021, is taking time away from her small business to volunteer for VITA. The founder and owner of New Beginning Accounting and Financial Services LLC is often the first person filers see on arrival.

"Serving as a greeter and intake specialist at VITA sites has enhanced my attention to detail and reinforced the importance of being the first point of contact for an organization — presenting a warm, welcoming and professional presence," said Slappy, who also volunteers as treasurer of Beta Alpha Psi's Eta Xi chapter. "Students in this role develop professional communication skills, gain exposure to client interaction and learn how a tax preparation site operates."

Slappy explained that she has also learned how to "communicate difficult information courteously and respectfully when a return cannot be prepared at the site." Still, most encounters are positive.

"I enjoy seeing people leave with a smile knowing they will have a little extra cash that they didn't have before," Huffman said. "There are a lot of areas that can benefit low-income individuals if they knew what they were looking for, so helping them understand what they need to know is very rewarding to me."

Other student volunteers include:

Raja Rajeshwari Devi Dornala, a graduate student majoring in computer science and information systems from India.
Austin Hall, a senior business administration major from Hillsdale.
Tamar Lewis, a graduate student majoring in accounting from Flint.
Andre Weathers, a senior finance major from Flint.

Anyone may volunteer for VITA and receive free training. Enrollment at UM-Flint or SOM is not required. For details, email Zheng at zqzheng@umich.edu.

VITA at UM-Flint

Congress established the VITA program with the passage of the Tax Reform Act of 1969. The late Cathy Miller, former associate professor of accounting, launched the program at UM-Flint as a student and member of the Accounting Club in 1984. She later renewed her involvement after joining the faculty in 1998 and even earned praise from the IRS in 2016. Miller passed away unexpectedly last year, just as tax season was beginning. Zheng, her successor, joined SOM's faculty that fall and has since worked to continue Miller's legacy.