TOMS RIVER, N.J. – As the 2026 tax season approaches, Ocean County College is once again offering a program to assist qualified individuals in the community with preparing and filing their tax returns. Beginning on February 5, 2026, accounting students trained and certified by the IRS will prepare income tax returns for free through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, available to underserved populations including the elderly or those with modest incomes. For more specific requirements, please go to go.ocean.edu/VITA.
VITA services are not only free, they are also a reliable and trusted source for preparing tax returns. Student volunteers receive training in tax law and tax software that meets or exceeds IRS standards, preparing them to assist taxpayers with filing their tax returns while maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of taxpayer information. In addition to requiring volunteers to certify their knowledge of the tax laws, the IRS also requires a quality review check for every return prepared at a VITA site prior to filing.
The IRS has been offering the VITA program through partner sites for more than 50 years, with millions of federal and state returns prepared by volunteers each filing season. OCC President Pamela Monaco learned of the program last year and brought it to the attention of OCC’s accounting faculty. The program ran successfully for the 2025 tax season.
“This is a wonderful approach to serve our various constituencies while providing students the opportunity to practice their skills as they give back to others,” explained Dr. Monaco. “I am particularly delighted that Dean Hadley reached out to students in the accounting program at Kean and will include them in this good work. It is a lot of work for our faculty, but they did not hesitate to introduce this benefit to both students and Ocean County.”
Former OCC accounting student Trish Archimbaud will serve as the program’s site coordinator for her second year. “Having a VITA center on campus not only helps our community, but it also offers students hands-on experience in the accounting profession that they might not get elsewhere,” she said. “They learn to interact with taxpayers in a professional setting and prepare tax returns. I’m excited for community members to see how talented, professional, and capable my fellow students are at OCC.”
VITA at Ocean County College will be open February 5 through April 15 on the Ocean County College main campus in Library Building (#3), Room 1 (Library Tower). Appointments are available Monday through Thursday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (The site will be closed for President’s Day on 2/16/26.) Walk-in and drop-off services are not available.
For more information, please email VITA@ocean.edu or visit go.ocean.edu/VITA.
About Ocean County College
For 60 years, Ocean County College, a public two-year community college sponsored by Ocean County and the State of New Jersey, has provided area residents with the opportunity to benefit from higher education. OCC is an innovative academic leader offering affordable, student-centered, high-quality educational experiences that empower diverse learners to achieve their goals while enriching the communities we serve. Learn more at ocean.edu.