With over $3 million dollars in impact and more than 700 Charlottesville area residents having received free tax preparation assistance last year, the CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) program through Madison House provides a huge, direct impact in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. Actively seeking applicants, the CASH program is a fantastic way for UVA students to get involved in the broader community. 

“CASH is actually part of the Charlottesville Tax Aid Coalition led by Madison House. This coalition was formed in 2007 and continues to empower Charlottesville area residents financially through free tax preparation services. But as early as 1972, UVA graduate students had begun assisting the community during tax season,” explains fourth-year student Jialin Tso, CASH Head Program Director (HPD) and Commerce and Computer Science double major. The other HPDs are fourth-year student Manish Dahal and third-year student William Yu. 

Manish shared that during his second year, he worked with an immigrant family of six. The tax filing process took more than two hours, well over the amount of time it takes to complete a standard return, because there was a lot of paperwork to go through and English was not the family’s first language. He mentions that it was one of his most rewarding experiences at UVA because he helped the family receive a $16,000 refund.

“During those two hours, I learned about the hardships they faced moving to the United States and raising four children. The parents spoke about how difficult it was to pay their rent, cook, and work two jobs while raising their family,” says Manish. “This interaction ignited my passion for CASH and ultimately led me to become a Head Program Director.”

So how can other UVA students get involved? The volunteer application is due Friday, September 8. It includes an opportunity to upload a resume and two short essays. Short, fifteen-minute interviews, which are a new step in the application process this year, will take place between September 15 and 17. Decisions will be released around September 18 or 19.

New CASH volunteers undergo a training process between October and November, when they will prepare to take and pass the IRS exam over winter break, an exam for which CASH trainees have a 100% pass rate. During the spring semester, volunteers will work three-hour shifts for eight weeks, where they will work one-to-one with clients and check the work of other volunteers to ensure accuracy. Jialin emphasizes the volunteers’ skills, saying, “As a result of our team’s expertise and dedication, we have several clients who return year after year to CASH.”

Why is CASH so important? Their tax services help Charlottesville area residents claim earned tax credits, subsequently helping their financial situations. Jialin adds, “Paid tax preparers are often expensive and the refunds that taxpayers receive would often go toward fees.” UVA second-year student Sia Patel, a new Program Director for CASH, explains, “I believe CASH is important because we get to make a tangible impact on the community, and there are many people who need help filing their taxes.” Similarly, William adds, “As UVA students, we are in a bubble within Charlottesville as the Grounds are mainly separate from the rest of the city. I joined CASH because I wanted to see the larger Charlottesville community and give back to the city.”

Manish welcomes all UVA applicants, saying, “We are looking for students who are passionate about volunteering and making a difference in the Charlottesville community.”

Interested UVA students of all majors and backgrounds should apply here.

By Cecilia Murphy