CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is calling for volunteers in the Champaign-Urbana area to help prepare tax returns for those who need it most. A collaboration between the University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business and Salt & Light, the program provides free tax services to low-income households, seniors, people with disabilities, and non-English speakers.

Volunteers will be stationed at Salt & Light in Urbana, where they’ll assist clients in gathering necessary documents for their tax returns. No prior tax preparation experience is required. Instead, volunteers will support Gies College of Business accounting students as they work with taxpayers to ensure accurate filings.

Training on the VITA process is required and includes intake procedures and the return of completed tax forms to clients. Volunteers will commit to 2.5-hour shifts, with the flexibility to take on additional shifts each week. The program runs from January through April 2026.

The program has seen tremendous success in previous years, with volunteers helping file over 600 returns in 2025. Gies College of Business accounting students, ranked among the top in the nation, gain valuable real-world experience while providing a much-needed service to the community.

Those interested in volunteering can complete a Volunteer Interest Form on the VITA website, and training dates will be provided in November.