Skip to Main Content Skip to Main Navigation Skip to Footer
UNG Logo
  • Info For...
    • Accepted Students
    • Current Students
    • Parents & Family
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Business & Community
    • International Students
  • Quicklinks
    • Directories
    • myUNG
    • Academic Catalogs
    • Athletics
    • Banner
    • Bookstore
    • Calendars
    • Campuses & Maps
    • Continuing Education
    • D2L
    • Employment / HR
    • IT Service Desk
    • Libraries
    • Testing
    • UNG Foundation
  • Admissions
  • Corps of Cadets
  • Academics
  • Cost & Aid
  • Student Life
  • News & Events
  • Athletics
  • About Us
Newsroom
  • All Articles
  • Media Relations Contact
  • Expert Guide
  • Points of Pride
  • Magazine
  • Social Media
    1. UNG
    2. News

    UNG students holding VITA tax program

    January 30, 2017
    Ashley Short, a senior accounting and finance major, talks to fellow students about the VITA program and the advantages it offers.

    Article By: Staff

    Six accounting students at the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Dahlonega Campus are providing a public service through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which enables them to file taxes for low-income community members for free.

    Under the guidance of Lisa Nash, a certified public accountant (CPA) and lecturer of accounting in UNG's Mike Cottrell College of Business, the students will gain valuable experience while providing eligible community members with professional-grade tax filing, according to Nash.

    "This provides real world application of the theory these students learn in income tax class," Nash said. "They will be able to gain experience in using tax software and examining real-world documents to find the information needed to complete the returns. Sometimes people filing their own taxes can make mistakes or they don't understand the implications of some of their answers, and this will help eliminate some of those difficulties — the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is very supportive of that. The taxpayers we help will benefit from accurately filed returns, electronic filing, and direct deposit of refunds, as well as student tax knowledge and instructor expertise."

    Nash also said the program provides students with résumé building experiences that cannot be simulated in the classroom; the students must apply the tax laws learned in the classroom to situations for each tax client they assist.

    "The students will use actual taxpayer documents to capture the information needed to prepare tax returns. They will prepare returns within the scope of their training and certification with oversight of the instructors. Another less technical but equally important aspect of the program is the practice they will gain of using 'soft skills,'" Nash said. "The interactions with clients enhance communication skills and emphasize the importance of acting in a professional manner. Students answer taxpayer questions related to tax laws and engage in conversations to make the experience personable for the taxpayer being served, and learn to work together to serve the clients and solve tax related issues."

    It has been several years since UNG has offered a VITA program, and due to the limited number of students and timeframe, the service will be offered by appointment only. After the students complete the work, faculty will review it before filing with the IRS.

    "We get to do the returns completely, so we have to interview the clients and take all the forms and file everything," said Ashley Short, a senior accounting and finance major. "It's great to have this in a class, because although we get to learn a lot in accounting, there's not much opportunity to interact with potential clients. Now we will be putting what we have learned into action. I'll also be able to include this on my résumé and say I already have experience in filing taxes for others when I try to find work as a CPA."

    The VITA program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. Community members interested in learning more can contact Nash at 706-867-3082.

    Contact the Author

    Business students gain leadership skills

    Business students gain leadership skills

    UNG's Mike Cottrell College of Business has launched a new program this fall to help students grow their leadership and workforce skills. Ten students are part of the initial cohort of the Cottrell Leadership Fellows program.
    Two women honored  for entrepreneurship

    Two women honored for entrepreneurship

    UNG senior Krista Willey and alumna Taylor Merritt earned entrepreneurship awards from the Mike Cottrell College of Business this fall.
    Five cadets in top 10% nationally

    Five cadets in top 10% nationally

    Seventeen UNG cadets have been named Distinguished Military Graduates for the 2023-24 academic year, with five of them among the top 10% nationally of graduating active-duty-eligible cadets.
    UNG in second midway through NSA event

    UNG in second midway through NSA event

    Roughly midway through this year's NSA Codebreaker Challenge, UNG's students and faculty are in second place in the nationwide cybersecurity competition.

    UNG Logo
    • Contact Us
    • Request Information
    • Quick Facts
    • Campus Maps & Directions
    • Student Consumer Information
    • Campus Safety
    • Emergency Information
    • Employment/HR
    • UNG Policies & Procedures
    • UNG Alumni Association
    • UNG Foundation
    • Ethics & Compliance Hotline
    • Human Trafficking Notice
    • Equal Empl. Opportunity

    © 2023 The University System of Georgia and the University of North Georgia.

    UNG follows the section 508 Standards and WCAG 2.0 for web accessibility. If you require this content in another format, please send an email to the ADA Coordinator.

    Use of military-themed imagery does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense.

    • Accreditation
    • Accessibility
    • Privacy Policy
    Establishing Connection...
    AskNigel