Hawai‘i CC students making a difference through free tax preparation

It’s tax season, and that means Hawai‘i Community College students are out in the community using their newly acquired skills to help individuals and families prepare their taxes. 

This is the third consecutive year that Hawai‘i CC students enrolled in Accounting 134: Individual Income Tax Preparation have joined forces with Goodwill Industries of Hawaii to offer free tax services.

Prior to serving at Goodwill, the students complete a rigorous training program and receive their tax certifications from the Internal Revenue Service as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

“I am very impressed with the group’s ability this year,” said Raymond Saludares, assistant director of Goodwill Industries. “They are all very quick to learn and ask appropriate questions.”

Hawai‘i CC accounting lecturer Siniva Pota is passionate about providing students with the ability to learn in the classroom and perform outside of the class.

“Success isn’t about only obtaining the ‘A’ letter grade; it’s about connecting the dots both in and out of the classroom, while forming a meaningful connection to the community and its people, through giving,” Pota said. “What better way to give than to share one’s knowledge and professional skills? Hawai‘i Community College students are doing just that.”