As tax season enters its busiest stretch, a group of University of Kentucky students is helping make the process more accessible — and more understandable — for members of the Lexington community.
Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, students from the Gatton College of Business and Economics and the J. David Rosenberg College of Law are preparing and filing tax returns at no cost for individuals and families who may not otherwise have access to professional services.
This year, demand has reached a new level.
As of spring break, student volunteers had completed 234 tax returns, generating more than $184,000 in total refunds — an average of nearly $1,000 per return.
“It’s a subject matter they study in class, but a wonderful opportunity to see it in practice,” said Jennifer Siebenthaler, senior lecturer and director of the Master of Science in Accounting program in the Von Allmen School of Accountancy. “Volunteering at the clinic provides students a chance to try out an important branch of the accounting profession while also helping out the community.”
The clinic’s long-running presence at UK has depended on the leadership of Professor Doug Michael in UK’s J. David Rosenberg College of Law. Michael has spent years overseeing the program’s training, administration and day-to-day operations, making the student experience possible while helping ensure clients receive reliable support. Though much of that work happens behind the scenes, Siebenthaler describes him as the driving force behind the clinic and the opportunity it provides to students and community members alike.
The VITA clinic, which has operated at the University of Kentucky for decades, serves a wide range of clients, including low-income individuals and families and a large population of international students navigating a complex U.S. tax system.
For many clients, filing a return is essential to receiving the full refund they are entitled to.
“The tax system is complicated even for those of us with strong financial knowledge,” Siebenthaler said. “For some of our clients, it’s even more challenging — whether that’s because of cost or simply trying to understand a system that isn’t in their first language.”
Students work directly with clients from start to finish — gathering documents, preparing returns and reviewing results — all under faculty supervision.
That responsibility makes the experience real.
“These are real clients filing real returns to the very real IRS,” Siebenthaler said. “There is an element of pressure to get it right, because there are consequences to the taxpayer.”
For students, the experience often becomes more than a résumé builder.
“I initially wanted an opportunity to expose myself to more hands-on experience with income taxes,” said Madison Glascott, a student volunteer. “However, I continued to volunteer because of the connection with the community.”
That connection is especially visible during busy clinic days, when clients arrive with questions, uncertainty — and often relief when they leave.
“The clients are so kind and appreciative of the services,” Glascott said. “It’s really rewarding to see people come back and apply what they’ve learned the year before.”
For Colin Butler, who serves as a site coordinator, the impact is clear in moments when clients can’t find help elsewhere.
“We did an individual’s taxes, and he was raving about how great an experience he had,” Butler said. “He had tried to get appointments with other tax preparers but couldn’t. To be able to provide people with a service they can’t find anywhere else is what makes VITA so beneficial.”
While the clinic reinforces technical knowledge, students quickly learn that success in accounting depends just as much on communication.
“A common misconception is that accountants do all their work behind a computer,” Siebenthaler said. “In the tax clinic, clients are sharing very personal information. Students are learning how to build trust, communicate clearly and respond professionally in a wide range of situations.”
For Butler, that experience has been formative.
“VITA throws you right into one-on-one client interviews,” he said. “If you can’t communicate, then you simply can’t do any returns.”
Students are also responsible for their own work — a level of ownership that mirrors professional expectations.
“Each volunteer is completely responsible for every return they do,” Butler said. “That pressure forces you to be prepared and act like a professional.”
For many students, the experience helps define their future.
“This experience changed everything about the way I saw my accounting future,” Butler said. “Before VITA, I had told myself that I was never going to work in tax. After VITA, all I want to do is work with tax.”
Glascott said the experience also reshaped how she views the profession.
“A lot of times accounting is perceived as a slow, boring career,” she said. “However, this experience has shown me how much it involves teamwork and communication.”
That combination of technical and interpersonal development is a key reason the program continues to grow.
“We all want to have purpose in life,” Siebenthaler said. “The VITA clinic gives students an opportunity to have a positive impact in a unique way.”
As the April filing deadline approaches, the clinic continues to serve clients across Lexington, providing a free, reliable option for those navigating the tax system.
“The biggest thing people should know is that it is a free and reliable service,” Butler said. “For people who can’t afford other services, VITA is the best place to go.”
For Gatton students, the experience reflects a broader goal: using what they learn in the classroom to make a meaningful difference beyond it.
“Public service is an important part of a professional’s identity,” Siebenthaler said. “The VITA program provides an immediate, real-world example of how their skills can improve other people’s lives.”
