While the mere thought of an IRS Form 1040 can trigger feelings of dread in most people, Angeline Benitez and Gabriela Hernandez are cut from a different cloth.
The Robert Morris University accounting majors actually enjoy tackling those forms as part of a free in-person tax preparation services program operated by United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
The two are among eight RMU students who volunteer at one of two West Hills sites that are part of United Way’s Free Tax Prep Coalition, which is now scheduling in-person appointments at a number of sites in Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
West Hills residents earning up to $50,000 a year and households of two or more earning up to $70,000 can qualify for free tax help. The United Way’s sites are open through mid-April with morning, afternoon and evening appointments available.
Two sites – one in Moon Township and one in Carnegie — are available in the West Hills:
- Robert Morris University in Moon Township, with appointments available 3-7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
- Robert Morris University at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library in Carnegie, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
Both Benitez, a sophomore from Oakmont, and Hernandez, a junior from Long Island, are in their second year as tax prep volunteers. Both said they saw the opportunity listed in an RMU newsletter and thought it would be great experience – and a chance to give back to their community.
“I thought, ‘Why not participate?’” Hernandez recalled. “I wanted to help low-income families.”
After the two underwent the required training, they began helping people with their dreaded annual duty.
“At first it was a little scary,” Benitez said. “You’re handling real documents. But as time went on, it got much easier, especially talking with clients.
“Sometimes they make you laugh while you’re doing their taxes. It’s very fulfilling to help people and it’s a great way to learn, to get that hands-on experience.”
Hernandez said her first year certainly was a challenge because she didn’t have any real knowledge of tax returns before she began her training.
“It’s a lot to learn – it’s a lot of attention to detail,” she said. “But it has strengthened my tax knowledge for sure.
“I’ve developed strong professional and communication skills working with the clients. And I’ve learned how much ethics and confidentiality are valued in the accounting profession.”
While not every customer is thrilled with the way the numbers add up, Benitez and Hernandez said it’s usually just a matter of explaining why that’s the case, and that helps people understand. Oftentimes the preparation specialists will compare someone’s most recent return to the previous year’s return and point out why things are different.
More often than not, people are thankful for the volunteers’ help.
“I had one woman who was really happy, and she tried to pay us,” Benitez said. “But I told her we can’t accept anything like money or food.”
Hernandez said people often show up for their appointments feeling stressed or unsure of what’s about to happen. But the reaction she gets when their session ends is a big reason why she came back for a second year of volunteer service.
“Sometimes it gets hard and tiring,” she said. “But once you see people being grateful and happy to see their refund – and even hug you – it makes you feel much better.
“It’s fulfilling to know that the work we do truly makes an impact.”
Both Benitez and Hernandez said they could see themselves working in that field after they graduate.
“There are so many fields in accounting,” Hernandez said. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. But I love preparing taxes. This is a great experience. It provides a solid foundation and helps me prepare for future internships or roles in accounting.
“It reinforces the passion for my field.”
The free tax service has proven popular with the public. During the 2024 tax year, 350 Free Tax Prep Coalition volunteers prepared 9,257 tax returns in-person and via MyFreeTaxes, generating a total of $12.2 million in refunds and saving clients an estimated $2.5 million in tax prep fees.
Emily Schmidlapp, manager of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Moving to Financial Stability program, said the free tax prep service is unique because the clients and the volunteers both gain from the experience.
“It returns money directly to working people in the community,” she said. “And as a volunteer, you’re leaning a great deal about taxes while saving your neighbors from predatory fees and from the stress of confusion and tax season.
“People are incredibly grateful and relieved when their taxes are done accurately, and their refunds can be a big step toward building savings.”
Be First to Comment