ETAMU's IRS VITA Tax Clinic Provides Free Tax Prep and Student Experiences

East Texas A&M University's participation in the IRS VITA program offers free tax preparation services to underserved populations and valuable hands-on learning for students.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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East Texas A&M University has renewed its participation in the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, providing free tax preparation services to individuals with low to moderate income, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and those with limited English proficiency. The program also offers ETAMU students the opportunity to gain real-world tax preparation experience by serving as volunteers under the guidance of faculty.

Why it matters

The VITA program at ETAMU helps address a critical need in the community by offering free tax preparation services to underserved populations who may not be able to afford professional tax assistance. At the same time, it provides ETAMU business and accounting students with valuable hands-on learning and professional development opportunities.

The details

The VITA clinic at ETAMU is led by Dr. Fabio Ambrosio, professor of accounting and business law, and assisted by Drs. Daniel Hsiao and Shiyou Li, also accounting professors. They have recruited two graduate assistants and nine student volunteers to staff the clinic, which is open three evenings per week. The students gain experience in tax preparation, customer service, and problem-solving as they work with a diverse array of clients and their unique tax situations.

  • The ETAMU VITA clinic opened for the 2026 tax season in February and will close on April 15, 2026.
  • The clinic offers both in-person walk-in services and virtual appointments.

The players

Dr. Fabio Ambrosio

Professor of accounting and business law, and assistant dean of the College of Business at East Texas A&M University.

Dr. Daniel Hsiao

Accounting professor at East Texas A&M University and part of the VITA clinic leadership team.

Dr. Shiyou Li

Accounting professor at East Texas A&M University and part of the VITA clinic leadership team.

Brayden Lopez

A senior majoring in General Business who is also a U.S. Navy veteran and a VITA student volunteer.

Ayomikun Ibrahim

A graduate student majoring in Finance who is a VITA student volunteer.

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What they’re saying

“We felt that we needed to go bigger and involve more students in this program. This provides an excellent educational opportunity for the students. Not only are they learning and applying U.S. tax law, but they are also learning how to be courteous, personable and understanding while working with clients from different backgrounds.”

— Dr. Fabio Ambrosio, Professor of accounting and business law, and assistant dean of the College of Business at East Texas A&M University (myparistexas.com)

“It has been a challenge at times and a learning experience, but I feel I have grown and gained a lot of new knowledge working with clients for VITA. The customer service experience I feel I've developed has been extremely valuable. I learn something new with almost every client.”

— Brayden Lopez, Senior majoring in General Business and U.S. Navy veteran (myparistexas.com)

“I felt this was a great avenue to help people. The interaction you have with clients can be special, and often your problem-solving skills are tested.”

— Ayomikun Ibrahim, Graduate student majoring in Finance (myparistexas.com)

What’s next

The VITA clinic at East Texas A&M will continue to operate through the end of tax season on April 15, 2026, providing free tax preparation services to eligible individuals in the community.

The takeaway

The VITA program at East Texas A&M University demonstrates how a university can leverage its resources to provide a valuable public service while also offering students unique hands-on learning opportunities that prepare them for future careers in accounting, finance, and business.