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<\/a>Alexis Anderson<\/strong> Jackson State University\u2019s Accounting Society\u2019s free income tax preparation service is back in business.<\/p>\n Members of the JSU Accounting Society have completed over 24 hours of Internal Revenue Service training and certification in order to provide free tax preparation to the JSU community from Jan. 4 until March 23, 2013.<\/p>\n Located in the College of Business, Suite 201, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, sponsored by the IRS, provides free income tax preparation services to low-income families and other individuals. The service is for filers who household income is below $50,000 and individuals who may qualify for the EITC, Earned Income Tax Credit.<\/p>\n JSU clients would have to have their 2012 federal and state income tax returns prepared, receive copies for their records, have it electronically filed and have the option of having their refund direct deposited or open a free debit card account. These services would cost about $75 to $150 at for-profit providers.<\/p>\n Donald McWilliams, instructor of Accounting at JSU and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Coordinator, supervised\u00a0 the 24 hours training.<\/p>\n \u201cThe students did their own research to prepare them to file taxes. They don\u2019t get any compensation for filing taxes, unless it\u2019s reimbursement. The students should not expect any money because that\u2019s not the reasoning behind this great deed, it\u2019s a volunteer experience,\u201d said McWilliams. \u201cI thought this would be a great opportunity to gain community service and a practical skill that can be used later in their lives. They get recognition and a party for their services.\u201d<\/p>\n The students are required to have taken and passed ACC 423 in the fall semester before they are allowed to participate in the program. The class, taught in the Department of Accounting by is a service learning course in the JSU College of Business. Service learning courses provide students with practical, real world experience to apply the academic concepts and theories learned in the classroom.<\/p>\n Some of the students involved enjoy the opportunity to give back to the community by filing taxes for the JSU student body and surrounding areas in the metro area.<\/p>\n Accounting Society members believe participation in the VITA program is beneficial to both students and the community.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a tax preparer through VITA, I feel this is an important way to service the community and surrounding areas in an area that is vital to all,\u201d said Terica Banks, a senior accounting major from Atlanta, Ga. and the Accounting Society President.<\/p>\n Kontessa Gillian-Rice, a senior accounting major from Jackson, Miss., said: \u201cBeing a part of the Accounting Society has been a great experience because it has given me a chance to be a VITA volunteer. It is an awesome way to give back to the community and all surrounding areas and it\u2019s free.\u201d<\/p>\n Amanda Smith, a senior accounting major from Jackson, Miss., said: \u201cGiving back to the community through VITA is a heart-warming, satisfying experience. Kudos to all who participate.\u201d<\/p>\n Usually, after a client files their taxes they receive their refund in 7-10 days if they have direct deposit.\u00a0 Otherwise, refunds are mailed in 4-6 weeks after filing. Last year, the JSU VITA program estimates to have filed 169 tax returns.<\/p>\n This may be the last time the Accounting Society will be able to file taxes for JSU students due to the uncertain grants next year.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, we\u2019re not sure if the tax preparations will be available next year. We get grants to fund the program that we use to train the students. If the grant is offered next year, then yes we will offer tax preparations,\u201d said McWilliams.<\/p>\n The times for the VITA Site Operations are on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the College of Business in room 210. The tax preparations will end on March 23, 2013 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the JSU Student Center on the 1st floor. The Accounting Society will also travel to Vicksburg, Miss. to file taxes at King Solomon Baptist Church. or more information on tax filing, call McWilliams at (601) 979-2699 or email him at Donald.mcwilliams@jsums.edu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Alexis Anderson Blue & White Flash \/ Staff Writer Jackson State University\u2019s Accounting Society\u2019s free income tax preparation service is back in business. Members of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_plus_post_options":"{}","editor_plus_copied_stylings":"{}","_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1738"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1738"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1738\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nBlue & White Flash \/ Staff Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nF<\/p>\n