UGA employees, as well as other Athens residents, have the opportunity again this year to have their taxes filled out for free by family financial planning majors who have undergone IRS-approved training. Students from the accounting honors society Beta Alpha Psi are also volunteering in the effort.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is a nationwide program sponsored by the IRS, according to Julia Garcia, national director of the IRS’ Stakeholder, Partnerships, Education and Communication Program. Garcia was one of several IRS officials from SPEC who recently visited the VITA site at the Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church in Athens.
“The IRS provides guidance and support to 12,000 sites throughout the U.S.,” Garcia said. “Part of the tax administration is the requirement for citizens to file their taxes on time. But we also want to make sure every taxpayer is aware of any credits they’re entitled to, like the Earned Income Tax Credit.”
VITA volunteers undergo 24 hours of training and must pass a test prior to being allowed to prepare taxes, according to Garcia.
FFP students began participating in VITA three years ago at the invitation of Tom Cochran, retired UGA vice president of student affairs, who was working with what is now the Georgia Federal Credit Union, according to Lance Palmer, an assistant professor of housing and consumer economics in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
“Tom approached us about finding ways our students could provide financial education to workers on campus,” Palmer said. “Our involvement in VITA grew out of that.”
The number of people taking advantage of the VITA program has grown annually, according to Palmer. The first year, the group prepared 125 tax returns. Last year, they completed 253, and Palmer estimates they’ll complete around 400 this year.
The VITA program is available to individuals who earn $50,000 or less and can even include individuals with limited self-employment income. The program also is available to households who earn $60,000 or less. VITA services are being offered until March 7.
VITA volunteers will be at the Georgia Federal Credit Union, 190 Gaines School Rd., and the UGA Visual Arts Building, 285 South Jackson St., on Feb. 24, Feb. 26, March 3 and March 5 from 5-8 p.m. They will be at the Clarke County Community Federal Credit Union Feb. 28 and March 7 from 9 a.m. until noon.
