During the 2024 tax season, 97 IRS-certified accounting students from the School of Management brought nearly $307,000 back into the Buffalo community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Students from the UB Accounting Association and UB’s chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the international honors organization for accounting and finance students and professionals, led the initiative that provided 1,845 hours of tax service, preparing more than 400 returns for individuals and families with annual incomes below $73,000.

More than $98,000 of the total was a result of the Earned Income Credit, which targets low-income families in need of additional financial support.

“Our student volunteers have juggled challenging class loads and devoted countless weekends to providing this crucial service,” says Ananth Iyer, dean of the School of Management. “This is a shining example of the positive impact School of Management students make on our community.”

Cumulatively, School of Management student volunteers have brought more than $13.3 million in tax refunds back into the region since 2008 by preparing 10,465 tax returns. Approximately $2.8 million was from the Earned Income Credit.