Students Serve Low Income Families Through SaveFirst

Huntingdon College accounting students review a tax return.

SaveFirst, an initiative of Impact Alabama, trained more than 400 students from fourteen college campuses who prepared returns for 2,400 families at thirteen sites statewide. In just six weeks, the students helped the families claim $4.7 million in refunds and save $600,000 in commercial preparation fees.

The students are all IRS-certified and assist low income families, especially those who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, in submitting their income tax forms. The initiative is designed to encourage filers to use community services at no charge in lieu of high interest, quick refund storefront operations.

SaveFirst uses the talents of accounting and law students across the state and just completed its second year of service.