MMC Business Students Offer Free Tax Assistance
Open gallery
When harried taxpayers in the region seek help filing their returns this spring, they may get the guidance they need from an MMC Business student.
The College participates in the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers free tax preparation services to low- to moderate-income filers, individuals with disabilities, and limited English speakers. MMC has a long history of supporting the initiative: Since 2011, more than 50 MMC Business students have volunteered for it, collectively preparing hundreds of income tax returns.
This semester, sophomores Evelyn Nista ’27, Eliza Chandler ’27, and Vivian Passonneau ’27 joined the effort for the first time, while senior Christina Newland ’25 returned for a second year in a row. MMC student participation is overseen by Associate Professor of Accounting and Assistant Business Division Chair Andrea Tsentides.
“The VITA program is very empowering for our students,” Tsentides said. “It allows them to apply concepts they’ve learned in their Accounting and Business classes while also using their knowledge to give back and assist people who need the support.”
MMC typically collaborates with one of several IRS partners that operate VITA sites and implement the program. This year, the College partnered with the Campaign for Working Families, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that champions financial well-being. Students had the option of working with the organization’s virtual tax preparation services or in person at its tax sites in New York City. The organization also guided students in completing the hours of online tax law and software training they must undergo to pass IRS certification exams.
Thanks to her past experience in VITA, Newland qualified for advanced certification and a paid position with the Campaign for Working Families. Each of the students, though, will receive academic credit for their work through an internship class led by Tsentides. By the semester’s end, they will have individually completed 120 hours of service in the program, complemented by academic work linking their experiences to core accounting and business concepts. The Business division is planning a celebration on Honors Day to recognize the impact of the students’ efforts.
Newland, a Finance major who’s minoring in Accounting and Economics and aspires to become a certified public accountant, said the opportunity for professional and personal development made the hard work of qualifying for IRS certification and devoting several hours a week to VITA worthwhile.
“I returned to the VITA program because I like the hands-on experience. It feels great helping people with their taxes while using what I’ve learned in class,” she said.
Working in person at a tax site—the Beth-Hark Christian Counseling Center in Harlem—has also bolstered her ability to communicate effectively and sharpened her customer service skills.
“I’ve had to become more patient and detail-oriented,” Newland said. “It’s also pushed me to improve my problem-solving skills and learn how to explain taxes in a way that’s easy for people to understand.”
Even students who don’t envision a future in accounting, like Newland, say the program offers critical life lessons. Indeed, Chandler, a Marketing major minoring in Fashion Studies and Economics who hopes to enter the fashion world, said the skills students pick up in VITA are beneficial regardless of their path.
“I knew nothing about taxes before this—I just knew it was something my parents dealt with,” Chandler said. “But taxes are something everyone has to do, and it’s nice to know that I can do them for myself in the future.”
Moreover, all the students said they were happy to use their time and talents to benefit the community.
Nista, a Marketing major minoring in Communications and Accounting, was accustomed to volunteering in high school back in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. VITA, she said, is her first opportunity to serve the community in a significant way here in New York.
“That’s part of the reason I was eager to be a part of it—it’s a way for me to help other people,” she said. “Ultimately, I would like to be able to use my degree to do good in some form.”
Published: April 01, 2025
Annika Villareal ’29 Captures Top Prize in Northeastern’s Global Innovation Challenge
Annika Villareal ’29 is a shrewd problem solver—and her latest victory proves it.
