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Page 11
Campus Review
January 31, 2014
VITA Begins its 24th Year at Clayton State
Accounting students from Clayton State
University are again participating in the
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Program hosted by the College of
Business.
VITA is a national program that provides
tax support for certain eligible taxpayers.
The program, which has been in existence
for more than 40 years, is also an experi-
ential learning experience for Clayton
State students, providing the volunteers
with extensive IRS training and testing,
enabling them to ensure that taxpayers
will have their tax returns filled out accu-
rately and timely and receive the tax cred-
its they qualify for, such as the Earned
Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax
Credit.
This service will be offered at the College
of Business at Clayton State on Saturdays
through the end of March, from 9 a.m. to
1 p.m. Taxpayers will be assisted on a
first-come, first-serve basis. If taxpayers
have further questions they may call the
VITA hotline at (678) 466-4527.
Current college students can also benefit
from having VITA volunteers prepare
their taxes since the volunteers are trained
in the rules for the credits available for
tuition and other school-related expenses.
The VITA program also prepares state
income tax returns and provides free e-fil-
ing options to ensure clients receive their
refunds as soon as possible.
Clayton State is proud to be the only uni-
versity in the state of Georgia that has suc-
cessfully participated in the VITA pro-
gram for 24 consecutive years.
“Our highly trained volunteers are eager
to begin working with the public in order
to make their tax preparation experience
stress-free,” says Professor Judith Ogden,
College of Business faculty member, who
is spending her ninth year with VITA at
Clayton State, and her 16th year with
VITA nationwide. “It gives our students
hands-on experience, and provides a valu-
able service to the public. We have tax-
payers who return every year.”
Those who are eligible to receive this
service are taxpayers who make under
$51,000 a year and wish to receive help
with their 2013 personal income taxes
using Forms 1040EZ, 1040A, and sim-
ple1040s. The program does not provide
assistance with out-of-state or small busi-
ness returns, or for those who are self-
employed.
Those interested in receiving this assis-
tance must bring the following items:
Photo identification,
Social security cards for themselves,
their spouse, and dependents,
Birthdates for primary, secondary,
and dependents on the tax return
Wage and earning statement(s) Form
W-2, W-2G, 1009-R, from all
employers
Interest and dividend statements from
bank(s), Form 1099
Other relevant information about
income and expenses
- Day care provider identifying
number
- Total amount paid for day care
A copy of last year’s federal and state
income tax returns if possible,
Bank routing and account numbers
for direct deposit.
Please note that both spouses will need to
be present to file electronically.
at both the System and institutional level.
“We’ve established a director of Military
Affairs in the System Office and our
schools are working to expand on-cam-
pus, on base, and online programs to bet-
ter serve our military citizens,” Huckaby
said.
“For
example,
our
‘Soldiers2Scholars’ program has helped
to establish military outreach centers on
22 of our campuses.”
Increasing college completion rates under
the umbrella of Gov. Nathan Deal’s
“Complete College Georgia” initiative
means more than just having more indi-
viduals enroll in college and earn degrees.
Huckaby said if the pipeline of high
school graduates ready for college is to
increase, then the University System must
examine its key role in preparing teachers
for K-12.
“Statistics show that more than 50 percent
of Georgia’s public school teachers are
graduates of one of our 22 teacher educa-
tion programs,” Huckaby said. “We may
very well be part of the problem.”
Instead, Huckaby is focused on solutions,
in partnership with the Department of
Education and the Professional Standards
Commission. Underway is a professional
and objective evaluation of all of the
University System’s teacher education
programs.
“This evaluation will have consequences;
ultimately the graduates of those programs
who do not perform at a high level will not
receive a teaching certificate and the
teacher education programs in our institu-
tions graduating those students will not be
allowed to continue,” Huckaby said.
Concluding his presentation, Huckaby
stressed that creating a more efficient and
effective system that better serves stu-
dents and creates a more informed and
educated citizenry for the state is a chal-
lenge, but also a great opportunity.
“We are not ignoring our challenges. We
are tackling them,” said Huckaby. “We are
reshaping public higher education in
Georgia. We are not finished. But with
your help, we will finish.”
For the full text of Huckaby’s remarks,
visit: http://www.usg.edu/chancellor/speech-
es/joint_appropriations_presentation
Huckaby, cont’d. from p. 10