TCC Students Help File Taxes For Free Through VITA Program

Tulsa Community College Students are getting real world experiencing helping others file taxes for free.

This is the inaugural internship class where Tulsa Responds and Tulsa Community College partner to give students the opportunity to learn how to be intake specialists or tax preparers.

The VITA program is designed to help people file their taxes for free if they qualify. This could include either living in a household that brings in $64,000 or less, having a disability or speaking limited English.

The partnership trains students to work with people and make sure they have the right documentation to get their taxes filed.

For Isabella Knoblett, a student intern intake specialist, she said this program has given her a better idea of what career path she might take in the future.

"I think this internship has offered me a lot of direction on how to go about finding my career. Before I started this internship, I did not know really which direction to go towards. That’s a great thing about TCC is through these courses I am taking my professors are not only there for the curriculum they are offering, but they are there for guidance outside of the classroom," Knoblett said.

Afton Armbrister said she's thankful for the opportunity to help so many in need.

"It means the world. It’s a feeling that you get helping people, helping them get refunds that they would ordinarily not get, helping them get the refund for free. So it means the world to me," Armbrister said.

Not only do the students get real world work experience they can take after graduation, the students will also be getting paid and receive a stipend that goes towards their tuition.