The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program works to ease the burden of tax season by offering free tax preparation while creating meaningful connections between students and the community.
VITA is a nationwide Internal Revenue Service initiative designed to help low-income individuals and families file their taxes accurately with no cost. In Grinnell, the program is coordinated through a partnership between community volunteers and Grinnell College students, serving more than 100 community members each year.
Lee McFee, the VITA site coordinator, has been involved with the program for over a decade. His involvement with the program dates back to 2010, when VITA was a small, student-led initiative run through Mid-Iowa Community Action, a local nonprofit organization. When VITA temporarily disappeared from Grinnell, McFee helped lead its reinstatement in 2016 through Poweshiek County Extension.
One of the primary reasons VITA is so essential, McFee explained, is the complexity of the U.S. tax system itself. “Often our clients aren’t sure what benefits they’re eligible for or even whether they need to file a return at all,” McFee said. Beyond preparing tax returns, VITA volunteers spend time educating clients and helping them understand how the tax system affects their lives.
Tax refunds themselves often play a critical role in clients lives. For families struggling to cover basic expenses, a tax refund can help pay rent, medical bills or utilities. According to McFee, the Grinnell VITA program returns approximately $125,000 each year directly back into the community. “That money goes into their pockets in the community,” he said.
Without VITA, many of these families would be left with few options. “They’d likely end up using a paid tax preparer, assuming they even knew they needed to file a return,” McFee said. Paid services can be expensive, especially for those with limited incomes. VITA’s free model removes the financial barrier of having to pay to file taxes, instead offering a space where clients can ask questions and receive support without fear of hidden costs.
The program also offers Grinnell students a unique learning experience. Students gain hands-on exposure to the tax system, a skill that will follow them long after graduation.
“College students get two things out of this program,” McFee said. “They gain practical skills that will help them for a lifetime, and they develop an understanding of how the tax system actually works.”
Emily Moore, a tax preparer volunteer who also trains student volunteers, has worked alongside McFee for years. “I train the students we’re blessed to have in our program,” Moore said. For both McFee and Moore, community service has always been crucial to their work, making VITA a natural fit for the both of them.
Moore emphasized how closely VITA aligns with Grinnell College’s values. “Both Lee and I have volunteered in a number of community programs,” she said. “That’s one of the things that attracted us to VITA.” She added that Grinnell’s encouragement of civic engagement plays a significant role in sustaining programs like this one.
Moore said she hopes more students recognize VITA as a chance to combine learning with meaningful service. “This is a volunteering experience where students can help the community, learn something substantial and give back in a real way,” she said.
As tax season continues, McFee and Moore hope awareness of VITA will grow among both those who need its services, and students seeking ways to engage with Grinnell’s broader community.
