DAYTON, Ohio — Last-minute income tax filers in Montgomery County are getting some help filing their returns, courtesy of students from the University of Dayton.

What You Need To Know

  • University of Dayton students participate in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

  • Students help low-income and elderly tax files with their returns free of charge

  • The program generates millions of dollars of refunds that help boost the Montgomery County economy

They’re volunteers in a program helping low-income and senior taxpayers get free help filing their state and federal tax returns.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program has been using UD accounting students for more than 15 years, Students in the program earn one credit hour and also complete a service hour requirement for graduation, said participant Benjamin Bitner, a junior accounting major. 

“Coming here on a Saturday morning, what really brings me here is the people,” Bitner said. “I like being with the UD students and the staff here and working with the clients.”

Like Kirk Townsend, a client from Dayton who had taxes filed electronically, thanks to the volunteers. 

“I just love how the guys are able to just take time out of their day to come and help people like that don’t know how to file their taxes,” Townsend said. “I just love the volunteership.”

Dayton Alumnus Thomas Mott has been working with this program for more than 20 years since he retired from IBM. He’s a UD graduate who started recruiting students back in 2007.

“They’re smarter than me,” Mott said. "We’ve had over 200-300 volunteers over the years and they do good work; they learn real quick and they enjoy doing it.”

Mott said they have helped taxpayers receive millions of dollars in refunds, and that’s good for the economy in Montgomery County.

“Every year, we probably put about $3-4 million the city of Dayton and the community with refunds,” Mott said. “A lot of clients are eligible for what’s called the earned income credit and some clients will get up to four or five thousand dollars credit.”

He said their reactions are priceless.

“I’ve had clients cry, I’ve had clients say a prayer for me because of joy,” Mott said.

Bitner said the experience has many rewards and lessons for the students as well.

“While I’m serving other people, they’re also serving me because I’m learning along with them,” Bitner said. “I’m currently taking a tax class and because of the work I’m doing here with clients, I feel like I’m gaining real-life skills and not only communication but I’m gaining skills into the tax code and realizing this not only applies to the clients, it applies to me as well. So I’m able to apply that to real life and the people around me.”

Bitner plans to continue volunteering and he hopes to someday work as a tax expert, improving trade relations between the U.S. and China.  He says that being able to make a difference by volunteering now will help him throughout his career.

“Even as a student, I feel like I’m making an impact,” he said.