MCLA Students Return Nearly $190,000 Through Free Tax Preparation Program

NORTH ADAMS — Students at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) recently completed their eighth year of free tax preparation services for area residents through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, returning $188,404 in refunds directly to community members during the 2026 tax season.

Nine MCLA students participated as interns, completing 155 federal returns and 199 state returns for individuals with an average adjusted gross income of approximately $31,000. Combined federal and state refunds totaled $188,404, and students also facilitated $48,833 in collections for federal and state taxing agencies. In total, they contributed 552 hours of direct community service, not including training or classroom time.

“They earn college credit, all while volunteering in our community, and build a sense of belonging, confidence, and soft skills that will serve them throughout their college and professional careers,” said Tara Barboza, associate professor of Accounting and VITA program director.

For Troy Michalak, a senior completing a concentration in accounting, VITA offered something that extended well beyond technical training. “A lot of CPAs don’t necessarily sit down with their clients anymore, and the clients were so happy that we did,” he said. “I felt very much like I was contributing to Northern Berkshire County.”

The experience has also proved professionally formative. Michalak now interns at Adelson and Company and credits VITA as a meaningful factor in that outcome. “If you have VITA on your résumé, the employer will realize the student already has experience doing taxes for a whole tax season,” he said. “Plus, you are showing you care about your clients and your community.”

Client feedback bore that out. Of 102 anonymous surveys collected, students earned an average 4.9 out of 5.0 rating across six service categories and a perfect score of 5.0 in overall satisfaction.

Since launching in 2018, the VITA program has completed 1,039 federal returns and returned more than $1.19 million in refunds to the community, while creating 60 student internship placements. The program has run every year except 2021.

VITA is a federally supported initiative providing free tax preparation to individuals who generally earn $67,000 or less. At MCLA, the program integrates directly into accounting coursework, connecting academic learning to measurable community benefit.