Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program returns to South Texas College to help taxpayers process, for free, their returns ahead of the filing deadline on April 15.
VITA offices at STC’s Pecan campus open on Feb. 3 and then on Feb. 4 at the college’s Mid Valley campus. Services will last for a six-week period until March 12 at Mid-Valley and March 14 at Pecan.
The Mid-Valley Campus will be open on Tuesdays and Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Pecan Campus will be open Monday through Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
STC faculty with the college’s Business Administration program have been holding training sessions for volunteers, which include residents from the community as well as students, since December, ahead of VITA services.
“We want to make sure that all of our volunteers are prepared for this tax preparation opportunity because not only is it such a wonderful experience for them to get involved, it’s also a great way for them to earn valuable knowledge in the field, especially for our accounting students,” said Anay De Leon, accounting faculty member at STC and coordinator of VITA services. “I encourage the community to come and participate and really take advantage of this program. Tax preparation is usually very expensive, but we offer our services completely free to the community.”
The VITA program has assisted the Rio Grande Valley for more than 30 years and has partnered with STC for 14 years.
The program offers free tax preparation services for those who make $65,000 or less, people with disabilities or limited English-speaking taxpayers.
The IRS manages all VITA programs, including the one at STC with the help of the United Way. The sites are also staffed with IRS-certified volunteers who have completed training and provide tax counseling.
VITA at STC filed more than 3,200 tax returns in 2024, totaling more than $4.9 million in refunds.
“Here at STC, we are asking the community to get involved as well as volunteer for our tax services,” said Miguel Garcia, certified public accountant (CPA) and STC associate professor of Business Administration, who was among those volunteering to assist with tax services this year. “We have students who are helping out, which is one of our purposes here at STC. We want students to receive this type of knowledge so they can help with these services. We certify and train them while being there to assist them for this completely free service to the community.”
Margaret Sanchez, a Business Administration student at STC, said she jumped at the opportunity get involved with VITA services and gain insight into the process.
“I know my family goes out and does their income tax services with their own professional tax preparer, and they pay a lot,” Sanchez said. “My message to the community would be to why not consider getting this free service and let other students get the experience they need in this field. I look forward to helping people. It’s free, so I think it’s a good deal.”
Appointments for VITA services are handled through the United Way. Those interested in scheduling an appointment whether online or by phone can visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/vita/ or call 956-607-9030.
