The UW-Whitewater VITA Clinic is not available for the 2024 tax season (taxes due by April 15, 2025). Check back early in 2026 for the latest information on the program. For resources on free or discounted assistance with tax return preparation, visit the IRS website.
Here’s a map showing all VITA sites within 50 miles of Whitewater, and a free Direct File option available to residents of Wisconsin and Illinois.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is home to one of the top accounting programs in the world. The university is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in both business and accounting, placing it among the top 2 percent of business schools globally for program quality.
Warhawk students and faculty are ready to assist qualifying taxpayers with tax preparation and electronic filing of federal and state income tax returns through UW-Whitewater’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) clinic. This IRS-sponsored program is available for low- and moderate-income taxpayers at no cost. No appointment is needed.
The VITA program provides hands-on opportunities and experience for UW-Whitewater’s graduate and undergraduate students to learn accounting. The clinic is staffed by certified student preparers and supervised by faculty in the College of Business and Economics’ accounting department.
In 2023, VITA staff prepared more than 200 tax return packages, earning clients more than $300,000 in refunds.
Future leaders emerge
In addition to making a positive impact on the community, the VITA program provides UW-Whitewater students with opportunities to gain real world experience. More than 20 students participate annually in the program. Alan Braatz, who graduated with a BBA in accounting in 2023, prepared tax returns in the program and now works as a staff accountant at Wipfli in Appleton, Wisconsin. “Giving students opportunities to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to actual work helps them have a seamless transition into the professional world,” Braatz said.
Location
The UW-Whitewater VITA clinic is in the UW-Whitewater Community Engagement Center, located at 1260 W. Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190 (next to Walmart).
There is plenty of free parking in front of the center for VITA participants. Clients will be served on a first-come, first-served basis and they should arrive at least one hour before closing.
VITA clinic schedule
UW-Whitewater’s VITA program will not be offered in 2025. Check back early in 2026 for the latest information on the program. For resources on free or discounted assistance with tax return preparation, visit the IRS website.
Our leadership: Brian Huels a mentor to UW-Whitewater students
Brian Huels, director of the VITA program and associate professor of accounting at UW-Whitewater, goes above and beyond to ensure the success of his students. A 1998 graduate of UW-Whitewater who also received his Doctor of Business Administration from the university, Huels has trained countless Warhawks in accounting in his seven-plus years as an instructor on campus.
Contact us
Want to learn more about UW-Whitewater's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program? | vita@uww.edu
