Bentley University offers free tax assistance 

With the April 15 deadline for filing taxes around the corner, Bentley University’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for the Waltham community is coming to a close.

The volunteer-driven program, managed by the Internal Revenue Service, offers free tax preparation services to qualified individuals across the country through partnerships with local organizations.

VITA tax preparation services are offered to those who make an annual salary of $67,000 or less, persons with disabilities and individuals with limited English language skills.

The program is a partnership between the university’s accounting department, the Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center and the local nonprofit WATCH CDC.

The BSLCE helps students learn by serving the community. In BSLCE programs, Bentley students take knowledge from their coursework and apply it to community service initiatives providing assistance in a wide range of areas.

According to Jonathan White, an associate professor of sociology at the university and the director of the BSLCE, the program not only offers tax preparation to those in need but also acts as a learning opportunity for its student volunteers, who receive course credit for their time.

“We partner with the accountancy and modern language departments to ensure this program can meet the varied needs of our diverse, vibrant community,” said Samantha Eddy, the associate director of academic programs at the BSLCE.

White explained that students in the accounting program help attendees begin their taxes, while students from the modern language department act as translators for those who have difficulty understanding English.

The taxes are then finished, reviewed and filed by the program’s two certified public accountants, John Casassa and Indre Naujokaite, who are licensed by Massachusetts to provide accounting services to the public.

A mutually beneficial partnership

Casassa, who also acts as the director of the VITA program, told The Waltham Times in an email that it’s inspiring to be part of the student volunteers’ education on the tax-service industry. 

White said that the program is funded through the university and a combination of grants from the state and the accounting firm RSM US.

White explained that WATCH CDC helped the university secure these grants and translate tax assistance materials into different languages.

“It’s mutually beneficial. It’s good for our students’ professional development. Bentley is lucky to be in the town of Waltham, and we’re very happy to be able to bring this service out in partnership,” said White.

Feedback for the program has been generally positive as well, according to Tony Thein, the assistant director of the VITA program. 

Thein told The Times in an email that the program’s attendees have expressed appreciation for the assistance they received from the program and interactions with staff and volunteers.

The VITA program runs during Bentley University’s spring semester. This year’s iteration started on Feb. 11. Sessions for the program are held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Waltham Public Library and Thursdays at Bentley University’s Morison Hall until April 10.

Future appointments are booked up, but interested parties can check the program’s calendar for last-minute openings.