Mount Saint Mary College accounting student Rhiannon T. Petrakis assists a local resident during a Tax-Aide session on February 18, Ash Wednesday.
As the April filing deadline approaches, Mount Saint Mary College accounting students are providing vital support to the community by offering free tax preparation for middle- and low-income families.
The students are volunteering with Tax-Aide, a program offered annually by the AARP Tax-Aide Foundation, the Mid-Hudson CASH Coalition, and other local partners. Serving at more than a dozen locations – including Newburgh, Middletown, and Montgomery – the students are helping neighbors navigate the complexities of federal and state returns. In 2025, the program resulted in more than $2.5 million in tax refunds and credits for families across Dutchess and Orange counties.
For Rhiannon Petrakis, an accounting student at the Mount, volunteering for Tax-Aide is about building a professional foundation while making a difference. She noted that the work has given her a “better understanding of how things are categorized” and helped her master industry terminology.
The most rewarding part of the experience, she explained, is “helping others to the best of my ability, when they may be completely unsure of the process or how to get started.”
Nicholas Clarino, also an accounting major, sees the program as a bridge to his future career goals.
“As an accounting major, tax preparation is one of the key components in getting your CPA license,” Clarino explained. “Not only knowing tax law, but learning how to apply it on a case to case basis is crucial.”
Clarino added that the client interactions have been the highlight of his experience so far: “Every single client that I have seen has been more than grateful for our services.”
Both students credit Neirouz Watad, associate professor of Accounting at the Mount, with guiding their interest in the field. Watad, who Clarino says “treats students like future working adults,” was the one who first introduced him to the Tax-Aide program.
Before beginning their work, students must pass a rigorous training course with certified instructors to ensure they can accurately interview clients and prepare returns using specialized software.