In September, the Madison House CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) Program began recruiting and selecting volunteers for their tax preparation services in tax season 2024. After receiving a record number of volunteer applications, the new recruits selected underwent five weeks of training.

Manish Dahal, a Fourth-year Head Program Director and McIntire School of Commerce student, explains that this semester the program provided instruction for 80 volunteers with the help of around 40 CASH Program Directors and shift leaders. He explains, “We are coming off of a really good recruiting season where we broke numbers.”

The five weeks of training saw great engagement and attendance by the volunteers. A typical training session consisted of returning volunteers and Program Directors giving instruction on different types of tax forms and how to fill them out correctly. Then, interactive exercises gave trainees an opportunity to practice what they learned. Using the Taxslayer website, volunteers were given scenarios with mock clients and had to complete the tax returns correctly. These weeks of training culminated with the “CASH-lympics”, a friendly yet competitive test of the volunteers’ skills.

“CASH-lympics allows volunteers to practice what they have learned in a fun manner,” explains Manish. “It is a little competitive, but it enables the volunteers to apply what they have learned in real-world scenarios. We give them scenarios that we have experienced in the past with real clients. They partner up with each other to solve the tax forms.”

What is next for the new volunteers? Over winter break they will take the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) certification test. The CASH program has a 100% pass rate, and the Head Program Directors are dedicated to seeing the volunteers pass.

Manish elaborates, saying, “An executive committee of Head Program Directors and Program Directors takes the exam first and we prepare a comprehensive study guide, especially focusing on challenging topics and what to expect. Then we pass this information along to the new volunteers.”

Even with all volunteers being VITA certified, the experienced and knowledgeable Program Directors continue to provide hands-on assistance and guidance throughout tax season. New volunteers get paired with returning volunteers or are supervised by returning volunteers.

Manish recalls, “I remember I was really scared to do my first tax return. I had my Program Director there with me, so I felt like I had a ton of support.”

Michael Kish, a new CASH Volunteer, is ready to help community members and also believes he has learned valuable information that he will carry forward with him. “I found the training process to be relevant not just for filing taxes for others, but myself, too. I’m really looking forward to helping the Charlottesville community,” says Michael.

Last year, the UVA volunteers in the CASH program completed around 800 returns. The entire CASH/VITA coalition in Charlottesville, led by Madison House, filed 1,500 returns and saw an impact of over $3 million dollars in tax refunds given back to the community. This year they hope to process even more returns.

Madison House will offer free tax preparation assistance to individuals and families earning less than $64,000 annually beginning in February 2023. Visit the Madison House website for more information and updates on scheduling an appointment.

By Cecilia Murphy