Many CalCPA members are familiar with Tax-Aid, a nearly 40-year-old San Francisco Bay Area based nonprofit that provides year-round free tax services for people with low income. The organization helps thousands of families each year and in 2025 alone, helped 2,545 people with their tax returns resulting in cumulative tax refunds of $1.59 million.

What you may not be as familiar with is Tax-Aid’s Equity Fellowship Program, which prepares college students from under-represented communities for careers in tax and accounting.

Equity Fellows work with Tax-Aid part time while they complete their college degree. During the one-year fellowship, they receive specialized training on tax law, how to use tax software, as well as mentorship and job placement assistance from Tax-Aid staff and volunteers.

The program builds confidence, opens doors and helps Equity Fellows build the professional networks they need to enter the workforce—and Tax-Aid’s Equity Fellows have received job offers from Bay Area top accounting firms.

“My experience with Tax-Aid has been incredibly rewarding! Not only have I improved the technical side of tax preparation, but also in what truly matters: making a positive impact in the community,” said Deyby Aguilar, a recent Tax-Aid Equity Fellow. “Being able to support people in a direct and meaningful way has been truly fulfilling. Looking ahead, I'll be interning at BPM LLP starting in winter while continuing to be involved with Tax-Aid.”

Each year, Tax-Aid trains more than 100 college students to prepare tax returns for Bay Area residents with low income. With guidance from experienced volunteers, college student volunteers prepare tax returns, gain professional communication skills by working directly with clients and learn how the tax system affects working families.

“I am incredibly grateful to everyone at Tax-Aid for sharing their time, knowledge and encouragement,” said Gianna Liu, another recent Equity Fellow graduate. “I have learned so much throughout my fellowship and the experience has strengthened my passion for accounting and tax. Moving forward, I plan to finish my bachelor's and master’s degrees in accounting, pursue an internship or full-time position at an accounting firm and ultimately become a CPA.”

Partnering with San Jose State University and UC Berkeley, professors teaching individual tax encourage their students to volunteer with Tax-Aid to apply what they learn in the classroom and put it into practice at the tax site. After they graduate, Tax-Aid is frequently the work experience students cite during job interviews as many go on to pursue careers in accounting and tax.

To further these programs, Tax-Aid is always seeking new volunteers and provides all the necessary training. Though the maximum income of the people Tax-Aid helps is $67,000 a year, the average household income is $23,000 a year. And Tax-Aid is unique in that its services are offered year-round—not just during the tax season—as people have tax issues that come up throughout the year, such as prior year tax returns to catch up on or help responding to letters from the IRS or FTB.

To learn more or to get involved, visit Tax-Aid’s website.