Faculty and staff at the University of Utah now have access to free tax support through the Financial Wellness Center’s Financial Wellness @ Work program.
“Our foundation has always been supporting students, but we know that financial stress affects our entire campus community,” said Gabrielle McAllaster, Financial Wellness Center director. “Over the years, we’ve seen increasing interest from employees seeking guidance, throughout the year, but especially during the tax season. Expanding these services allows us to meet that demand and strengthen financial well-being across campus.”
In addition to free tax support, the Financial Wellness @ Work program also offers financial counseling for faculty and staff, designed to support employee financial well-being. For a low cost, faculty and staff can access Accredited Financial Counselors and Certified Financial Planners for personalized support. In return, all proceeds support student financial programs.
For students, free on-site tax filing has been available for domestic and international students since 2013 through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. The center also provides no-cost tax assistance to community members at the Rose Park Neighborhood Center, in collaboration with Beta Alpha Psi, a national honors society. Students and community members can schedule an appointment here.
The expansion of free tax support to qualifying employees is provided by the Financial Wellness Center in partnership with International Student & Scholar Services and the Non-Resident Tax Help Group. Faculty and staff with an income under $89,000 can request a self-filing tax link here, using their @utah.edu email address.
Founded 15 years ago, the U’s Financial Wellness Center started from a student initiative.
“We were one of the very first centers of financial wellness in higher education,” McAllaster said. “Students saw the need to access financial counseling and education on campus.”
With a focus on empowerment, the center supports students in building financial confidence through accessible education, personalized guidance, and practical tools.
“All of our full-time staff are accredited financial counselors, with some recently earning their Certified Financial Planning Accreditation,” McAllaster said. “We meet with students one-on-one and can help with anything from budgeting, student loans, and learning more about credit.”
The center also offers workshops and can connect students with peer educators and mentors.
And support doesn’t end with commencement.
“We provide support for U students up to two years after graduation,” McAllaster said. “There are always questions about navigating benefits and salary and paying back student loans.”
Accessible financial support makes a tangible difference for students. Last fiscal year, the center filed more than 700 tax returns, securing over $500,000 in refunds for students and saving them nearly $200,000 in preparation fees. This marks an 111% increase in filings from the previous year.
Learn more about the Financial Wellness Center on the U for You podcast.