Established in 2010, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at UC Berkeley is a year-long program that prepares student volunteers to provide free tax-filing services to low- and moderate-income earning individuals and families in the East Bay. VITA students prepare for the IRS-sponsored VITA Certification Exam and learn about beneficial tax policies in relation to socioeconomic inequality in the fall, then volunteer at community tax preparation sites in the spring.
VITA leaders receive the prestigious Chancellor’s Award for Public Service
Supporters
The VITA program has benefited from the generous support of the Associated Students of the University of California and the Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union.
Important Dates
| VITA 2021-2022 Application | Apply here! |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | 9/10/2021 |
| Application Decisions | Rolling Basis |
| Decal Class | Mondays at 7 – 9 pm PST |
All classes will be held remotely/in person —please contact ucberkeleyvita@gmail.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact the student directors at ucberkeleyvita@gmail.com.
Aileen Pagdanganan, Program Manager
aileen.pagdanganan@berkeley.edu
Brianna Tran, Community Partnership Student Director
Christian Alejandro, DeCal and Training Student Director
Cassandra Peralta, DeCal and Training Student Director
2016 DeCal class
“Being part of community service was always an integral part of my life. What triggered my involvement in the Public Service Center was my passion for encouraging others to be engaged in community service. A particular memory that inspired me to take on a leadership role with VITA occurred while I was a volunteer filing a tax return for a VITA client. Maria was a single mother of five and I was able to help her acquire a tax refund of $2,000. Seeing the emotional impact of what $2,000 meant to Maria made my contribution feel fulfilling and awe-inspiring. Through the Public Service Center, I learned the power of teamwork and impact. Working in the Public Service Center and seeing so many different organizations helped me realized the importance of community learning.”
JUDY LI, Class of 2017, Major in Business Administration
Hometown: San Gabriel