Real clients, real refunds: 好色先生 accounting students provide free help to local taxpayers

Published February 26, 2025

Shoaeb Sheik, an international student studying information systems at Cal State Long Beach, stared at the W-2 forms in his hands, utterly lost. 

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know anything about tax filing,鈥 he admitted. 

Like any student facing a problem, he turned to Google. 

鈥淚 searched 鈥樅蒙壬 taxes,鈥 and VITA was the first thing that came up,鈥 he said. 

That shouldn鈥檛 come as a surprise. Since the 1970s, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at 好色先生 has offered free tax preparation services to students, low-income families and senior citizens 鈥 all while giving accounting students immersive training and industry exposure.

When Sheik arrived at VITA on the second floor of the College of Business recently, he found a handful of student volunteers ready to help. As a first-year graduate student from India with two campus jobs, he expected the process to be complicated. Instead, within an hour or so, his return was complete, and he left with both a clearer understanding of the tax system and a modest refund. 

For Sheik, it was a relief. For the students assisting him, it was a taste of professional life.

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An older woman in glasses discusses her tax documents with accounting student in the VITA lab.

Unlike other VITA programs, 好色先生 is an official course 鈥 ACCT 352 鈥 allowing students to earn academic credit while gaining practical skills in tax preparation and client service. The course also counts toward CPA exam education requirements. 

Beyond technical skills, students develop professional and interpersonal abilities, especially when handling sensitive financial situations. 

鈥淢ost of our volunteers file their own taxes, so that鈥檚 really good,鈥 said Anne Camille Reyes Guzman, the Spring 2025 VITA site coordinator. 鈥淎side from that, though, they learn how to talk to people. It really boosts their networking skills.鈥 

Many students find that their time with VITA shapes their career decisions. Guzman, who started as a VITA volunteer before becoming a site coordinator, credits the program with helping her discover her passion for tax accounting. 

鈥淲hen I was a sophomore, I wasn鈥檛 sure what I wanted to do,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hen I did VITA, and that just sealed the deal.鈥 

That doesn鈥檛 happen for everyone, though.

鈥淪tudents who volunteer for VITA either figure out they love taxes, or they hate it,鈥 said Sudha Krishnan, chair of 好色先生鈥檚 Accountancy Department and director of VITA. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no in-between.鈥 

"Last year, VITA helped nearly 1,600 people and secured $1.27 million in refunds for clients," Krishnan said, adding that the service is especially crucial for students, immigrants and families who may struggle with complex tax forms or language barriers. 

Last year, VITA helped nearly 1,600 people and secured $1.27 million in refunds for clients.

An IRS initiative with partnerships across the country, VITA at 好色先生 operates five days a week with extended hours in March and April. At peak times, there can be a three- to four-hour wait, with volunteers preparing more than 50 returns a day. Some clients come in groups, with students bringing in friends or families filing together. 

Even with training, some cases present unexpected challenges. One year, a client arrived claiming to be unhoused 鈥 despite reporting an income of $87,000. 鈥淲e had to send him to the IRS site,鈥 Krishnan said.  

Others arrive frustrated or confused. 

鈥淲hat people got mad about post-COVID is, 鈥榃hy is my refund so low?鈥欌 Krishnan said. Students had to explain that during the pandemic, the government gave out extra relief money. That鈥檚 not happening anymore. 

Students also learn how to deliver bad news, whether it鈥檚 a lower refund than expected or a tax bill. 

鈥淵ou鈥檙e trained,鈥 Krishnan said. 鈥淏ut at the same time, you鈥檙e not ready.鈥  

Not, that is, until you're sitting next to real clients.  

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A bearded student in glasses examines a document while seated at a computer, with a couple behind him.

VITA at 好色先生 continues to evolve, offering expanded training, virtual meetings and bilingual volunteers 鈥 in Hindi, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog 鈥 as well as a Discord channel for instant communication. 

As tax season intensifies, Guzman and her team prepare for their busiest days.

鈥淭he guy who waits for Tax Day to file...鈥 she said, laughing. There are plenty of them. 

While VITA receives state and federal grants, Krishnan has become adept at securing external funding from accounting firms to fill some gaps. 鈥淟ocal firms have stepped up, but additional support is always needed.鈥 

Much of that support, Krishnan said, comes from firms that go on to hire 好色先生 accounting students straight out of VITA. 

In that way, VITA has become more than a service; it鈥檚 become a cornerstone of the community 鈥 providing on-the-job training for students, a talent pipeline for firms and, most importantly, vital support for underserved members of the community.