DECATUR, Ill. – As U.S. Tax Day 2025 approaches on April 15, Millikin University Accounting students are doing their part to help local Decatur residents complete their tax forms for free.
As part of the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, Millikin receives a grant to support free tax preparation services for underserved individuals through partner organizations. The VITA program, founded in 1971, helps low- to moderate-income individuals, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited English speakers file their taxes each year.
“Millikin has been doing this for about 30 years. The program, which has been administered through the IRS for 50 years, has been linking up with community members nationwide to offer these services,” Millikin Clinical Instructor of Accounting Nicole Allen said. "We partner with the Decatur Public Library, which provides us with a space, allowing us to offer these free tax services. Individuals with an income of $67,000 or less or those who are elderly, aged 60 years or older."
Before coming to Millikin, Allen worked in public accounting, and as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), she oversees the Millikin VITA program, scheduling appointments and verifying the returns completed by her students. In 2024, Millikin students assisted more than 500 people with their taxes, and Allen expects an equally busy 2025 tax season.
“This is a required course for our Accounting majors over in the Tabor School of Business. It’s a three-credit class, and we have tax appointment times twice a week and every other Saturday,” Allen said. “During the appointment, our students are front facing with members of the community that come, and they're getting that critical experience of preparing these tax returns.”
Senior Accounting major Caroline Iteka is participating in Millikin’s VITA program for the first time this year, but her Millikin experience has provided her with ample Performance Learning experience in tax preparation. Last year and this year, Iteka had an internship with Decatur accounting and CPA firm May Cocagne & King, P. C. (MCK). Her experience helped form her plans after graduation in May.
“I had an audit internship with MCK, and I really enjoyed it. It showed me that I'm interested in auditing more than taxes,” she said. “After graduating, I will be going to the University of Illinois-Champaign in Accountancy, and I’m going to specialize in auditing and financial reporting.”
Iteka and the other Millikin VITA students work 40 hours during the spring, assisting clients with their taxes.
“I think people appreciate us being here to help, and when they show up, they have a lot of gratitude towards us,” she said. They receive a free service and a well-prepared tax return. It is also a good way for us to practice our tax preparation skills.
Iteka came to Millikin as an international student from Burundi and has enjoyed her experience and the opportunities she has had.
“My experience at Millikin has been better than expected because I feel like I'm involved in different extracurricular activities, and I’ve gotten to know so many people,” she said. “Millikin has so many resources, and the staff in the Student Success Center and Campus Life have always been a great help.”
