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At Woodrow Wilson High’s Academy of Finance, the students are learning more than math.
This year, their teacher, Denise Tucker, enrolled her students in an aggressive accounting program. Through a partnership with the Internal Revenue Service, some of her students are now processing people’s taxes for free.
“Everything you or I do or pay an accountant to do, they had to learn,” said Tucker.
While most adults dread doing their taxes, these 17-year-olds embrace it. Most adults who participate in the program are stunned at the teenagers’ knowledge and enthusiasm.
“I always like to be comfortable with people,” said junior Vidal Negrete. “So, I start a conversation with people and ask them how their day is going.”
“They find it kind of strange because a teenager doesn’t normally know how to do someone’s taxes,” said junior Melissa Perez.
“They’re really surprised,” said junior Valeria Villanueva. “They’re like – ‘You know more than I do!'”
Appointments are set with clients after school and on weekends. They pepper people with questions to find possible deductions. They are most proud of saving one client $8,826.
According to Tucker, all the students underwent an extensive ethics course and must agree to keep people’s finances confidential, which includes some of their own teachers.
“Everyone knows teachers don’t make that much, so I don’t think it’s a big deal,” laughed geometry teacher Brillante Wang, who had no reservations about letting a former student file his taxes.
“I know he’s a student, but I can see him becoming that professional that he’s on his way to now,” said Wang.
The students said they are learning a profitable skill for the future, while also learning from other’s experiences on how to plan their own money matters.
“It really gives real life training to these students,” said Tucker. “They learn how to make decisions for the rest of their life.”
All the filings are adult supervised. Woodrow Wilson is one of only three high schools in Texas approved to facilitate the program.
If you’re interested in getting your taxes filed for free, contact Woodrow Wilson High in Dallas ISD to set up an appointment.
The students will be taking appointments until Tax Day.