Daemen University’s accounting students are making tax season less taxing by offering free tax prep through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
The VITA program, which kicked off on Feb. 4, is offered to households with an annual income of $70,000 or less on Wednesday evenings from 4-7 p.m. through April 9.
Six accounting students participated in the VITA program in 2025, preparing 270 tax returns. This year, 10 students are participating in the program under the supervision of Tony Bonaventura, a VITA instructor and CPA, who serves as a quality reviewer.
Accounting student Brooke Czajkowski ‘27, a recipient of the Joseph and Joy Spanich Endowed Scholarship, is providing tax return support through the VITA program. “Thanks to the scholarship I received, I am able to continue my studies here, pushing myself to strive for excellence and becoming a meaningful contributor to the accounting profession,” she said.
“This is a great opportunity for accounting students to gain valuable hands-on experience with the technical aspects of return preparation, as well as face-to-face interaction with the clients,” said Grace Huff, adjunct professor of accounting. “We have many repeat clients who enjoy working with the students.”
Those interested in having tax returns prepared can call 211 to schedule an appointment. The tax preparation clinic is held in Daemen’s Alfiero School of Business, room B202.