The students at the University of Victoria’s 2026 Community Volunteer Income Tax Program helped over 150 people in the community file their tax returns for free this year.

The Bachelor of Commerce students at the University of Victoria have been working toward giving back to the community and making a difference through their student-led tax clinic. This year, the clinic helped prepare more than 150 free tax returns for community members, and over 80% of those who sought the clinic’s help in filing their taxes received refunds.

About 20 university students participated in the Gustavson Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, an annual student-run initiative administered by the experiential learning team at the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria. The program provides volunteers with an opportunity to gain real-world experience in leadership, teamwork, and community service while offering free support to individuals who need assistance completing basic tax returns.

Students worked in partnership with the Canada Revenue Agency, using approved software to gain hands-on experience in customer service and project management while learning about the Canadian tax system. “It was a nice way to help people, and it worked for me because it was an on-campus opportunity,” shared one of the volunteer students. Since the program’s launch in 2016, it has helped an estimated 500 people.

Source: Saanich News