UB students help bring $300,000 in tax refunds

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Volunteer University at Buffalo students helped bring more than $300,000 in tax refunds by helping local residents fill out their tax returns for free this season.

Students from the UB Accounting Association and UB’s chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the international honors organization for accounting and finance students and professionals, led the initiative that provided 1,845 hours of tax service, preparing more than 400 returns for individuals and families with annual incomes below $73,000.

More than $98,000 of the total was a result of the Earned Income Credit, which targets low-income families in need of additional financial support.

“Our student volunteers have juggled challenging class loads and devoted countless weekends to providing this crucial service,” says Ananth Iyer, dean of the UB School of Management. “This is a shining example of the positive impact School of Management students make on our community.”

Cumulatively, School of Management student volunteers have brought more than $13.3 million in tax refunds back into the region since 2008 by preparing 10,465 tax returns. Approximately $2.8 million was from the Earned Income Credit.