The next upcoming tax day will be on Apr. 15, 2027, and has been accepting returns since Jan. 26, 2026. Tax returns are helpful for bringing money back to individuals, as well as the community. One helpful resource is Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), who offers free tax preparation services to certain groups. Like last year, there will be the Michigan Tech VITA program through the College of Business, which will provide help for students and locals. Groups that qualify for VITA include the elderly, people with disabilities, and people with a yearly income of less than $70,000 a year.
Filing for tax returns helps individuals redeem tax credits. There are refundable and nonrefundable tax credits, which can reduce tax liability to 0 dollars, and potentially increase a refund beyond the tax owed. This means that not only can taxpayers get a refund for their taxes, but also gain money, depending on credit type. Four of the biggest tax credits that could provide a refund are Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, American Opportunity Tax Credit, and Premium Tax Credit.
VITA is sponsored by the IRS and staffed by volunteers. These volunteers are IRS-certified, meaning they receive IRS training and certification. Last year, there were 17 volunteers, but this year they are expected to have around 30.
Currently, VITA is still looking for more volunteers. No prior experience is required, and free training and IRS certification are provided. Ehsan Heshmatzadeh, Assistant Teaching Professor of Accounting and VITA site coordinator, said, “It’s a chance to develop confidence, professional skills, and a sense of responsibility while making a meaningful contribution to the community.” To sign-up as a volunteer, visit MichiganFreeTaxHelp.org/Volunteer.
To get involved with VITA, individuals will need to make appointments. Although there is no way to sign-up at the moment, there will be more information coming out about service dates and appointments as filing season gets closer. There will also be flyers posted around campus with more information. Karen Anderson, VITA site coordinator, said, “It’s a quality secure service, available to many local people at no cost.”
Last year, the VITA sites in the UP helped file 250 returns, which saved around $76,000 in total for tax preparation fees. It also brought in around $400,000 in tax refunds. Heshmatzadeh said, “Our goal is to make tax preparation a little less stressful and more accessible.” The Michigan Tech VITA program through the College of Business helped 34 households last year, resulting in more than $18,000 in tax refunds.
For more information on free tax assistance locations, visit michiganfreetaxhelp.org, or mtu.edu/international/current/f1-students/tax. Students can also email Karen Anderson at kanderson@uwmqt.org or Ehsan Heshmatzadeh at eheshmat@mtu.edu.
