Boston Tax Help Coalition: Volunteer Spotlight

This past May, the Boston Tax Help Coalition (BTHC) recognized Kien Lang as the 2025 Volunteer of the Year. Kien began volunteering with BTHC in 2012 at a site in Roxbury. “When I started, I had no experience in accounting or finance. I didn’t even know how to do my own taxes.” Since then, Kien has committed each spring to helping local residents file their taxes, first in Chelsea and now at the Chinatown Main Street tax site.

His fluency in Cantonese and Mandarin, among other languages, motivated him to transfer sites.“I volunteer in places where these languages would be helpful.” Kien realized that by being able to connect with constituents in their language, he could strengthen community ties and improve the quality of service. The BTHC currently provides free tax preparation assistance in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese, French, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Cantonese. This tax season, Chinatown Main Street served 171 low-to-moderate income residents, returning $186,000 in refunds. 

When not at Chinatown Main Street, Kien supports other local organizations with his time, including the American Red Cross Food Pantry. Year after year, he continues to return to the BTHC. His motivation stems from other volunteers, who he describes as “great people who like helping others.” Beyond being surrounded by community-driven individuals, he credits his longstanding commitment to the learning opportunities. Through the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program), volunteers like Kien can become certified in advanced tax preparation. 

Kien didn’t expect to receive this award, but his dedication has not gone unnoticed by staff. “Kien Lang has been a cornerstone of our work—bringing consistency, reliability, and expertise to every site he’s served,” said Brian Robinson, Assistant Deputy Director of the BTHC. “From helping new locations get off the ground to playing a key role in the success of our Chinatown Main Street site, his contributions have been extraordinary.”

We’re proud to honor Kien as our 2025 Volunteer of the Year and look forward to welcoming him for his 14th tax season next spring! To join him and over 250 other volunteers, register here for recruitment updates. Kien has one piece of advice for new volunteers: “Keep on learning, don’t be afraid, and be confident. It’s a team effort!” 

For more information about the Boston Tax Help Coalition, visit boston.gov/tax-help.