2008 Woodie Awards
Free money! Thanks to VITA
Lakeland students help you get your hard earned money back
Matt Rutlin
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
It is the time of the year to file for tax returns. (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) VITA is the group in charge. Get money back faster and easier than ever. This program is absolutely free, you are not even able to tip or compensate Lakeland College students in any way who help you.
The VITA service is provided and controlled by the IRS. VITA is utilized to motivate and guide low-income (under $40,000) taxpayers with free income tax return preparation. Moreover, it can help individuals with access to low income tax credits, including the Earned Income Credit and Wisconsin Homestead Credit.
You will qualify if you have earned all 2007 income in Wisconsin, are a legal U.S. resident and have a total income under $40,000. A few things that VITA can not prepare is a combined income over $40,000, business profit or loss, capital gains, moving expenses, rents and losses and employee expenses.
The program is under the leadership of Rick Gaumer, VITA site coordinator and associate professor of accounting at Lakeland. Marc Meade, Gaumer's right hand man and a student at Lakeland College, helps to oversee the VITA program along with Gaumer.
Meade will conduct interviews, fix errors, complete more complicated returns, assist, watch and answer any questions that might arise. Meade claims it is "very busy, we already had over 100 sessions in returns. Lakeland and Lakeshore Technical College students are learning quickly." LTC has teamed alongside Lakeland for the first year ever to include their students in the educational foundation to completing the tax procedure.
Meade continued by saying we are "already ahead from last year with 600 returns which is a big jump from approximately 450 last year. Word of mouth has been circulating around town about VITA which has been serendipitous. Gaumer is doing a great job as well as the students."
Moreover, Meade concluded by saying, "a lot of hard work has been put into this from everyone. This year we are looking to get to a million dollars in refunds which has sky rocketed since last year's now minuscule $683,832." Just last year, the average total refund for individuals was $1,510. The total amount of refunds overall was $683,832 which is up from $463,073 the year before last.
Lakeland is continuously learning more about the program and has improved on overall numbers and participants every year for the past three years.
You can expect to get your Federal refunds back within 5-7 days if using direct deposit whereas Wisconsin refunds take about two weeks if using direct deposit.
Returns are prepared at the Salvation Army on 710 Pennsylvania Avenue in Sheboygan.
Now is the time to take control of your life and money. The VITA program has already begun this year and will come to a close on April 15, 2008. To make a reservation in advance, call (920) 565-1543.
The VITA service is provided and controlled by the IRS. VITA is utilized to motivate and guide low-income (under $40,000) taxpayers with free income tax return preparation. Moreover, it can help individuals with access to low income tax credits, including the Earned Income Credit and Wisconsin Homestead Credit.
You will qualify if you have earned all 2007 income in Wisconsin, are a legal U.S. resident and have a total income under $40,000. A few things that VITA can not prepare is a combined income over $40,000, business profit or loss, capital gains, moving expenses, rents and losses and employee expenses.
The program is under the leadership of Rick Gaumer, VITA site coordinator and associate professor of accounting at Lakeland. Marc Meade, Gaumer's right hand man and a student at Lakeland College, helps to oversee the VITA program along with Gaumer.
Meade will conduct interviews, fix errors, complete more complicated returns, assist, watch and answer any questions that might arise. Meade claims it is "very busy, we already had over 100 sessions in returns. Lakeland and Lakeshore Technical College students are learning quickly." LTC has teamed alongside Lakeland for the first year ever to include their students in the educational foundation to completing the tax procedure.
Meade continued by saying we are "already ahead from last year with 600 returns which is a big jump from approximately 450 last year. Word of mouth has been circulating around town about VITA which has been serendipitous. Gaumer is doing a great job as well as the students."
Moreover, Meade concluded by saying, "a lot of hard work has been put into this from everyone. This year we are looking to get to a million dollars in refunds which has sky rocketed since last year's now minuscule $683,832." Just last year, the average total refund for individuals was $1,510. The total amount of refunds overall was $683,832 which is up from $463,073 the year before last.
Lakeland is continuously learning more about the program and has improved on overall numbers and participants every year for the past three years.
You can expect to get your Federal refunds back within 5-7 days if using direct deposit whereas Wisconsin refunds take about two weeks if using direct deposit.
Returns are prepared at the Salvation Army on 710 Pennsylvania Avenue in Sheboygan.
Now is the time to take control of your life and money. The VITA program has already begun this year and will come to a close on April 15, 2008. To make a reservation in advance, call (920) 565-1543.
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