{"id":827,"date":"2026-05-21T09:50:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/?p=827"},"modified":"2026-05-21T09:50:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:50:46","slug":"free-tax-help-brings-nearly-20000-back-to-oglethorpe-county-residents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/2026\/05\/free-tax-help-brings-nearly-20000-back-to-oglethorpe-county-residents\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Tax Help Brings Nearly $20,000 Back to Oglethorpe County Residents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This tax season, local residents received a helpful boost thanks to the University of Georgia Extension Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) program, which brought free tax preparation services to the community through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Oglethorpe County, 15 individuals and families received one-on-one support filing their taxes. In total, 17 returns were prepared or facilitated by IRS-certified volunteers through UGA Extension\u2019s trusted network. While the program is based locally, its reach extended into neighboring areas, serving residents in Oglethorpe, Clarke, and Columbia counties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impact was meaningful for local families. Participants received a combined $6,377 in federal refunds and $1,260 in state refunds. Many also qualified for valuable tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, programs designed to put more money back into the hands of working families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond refunds, the program also helped residents avoid the high cost of tax preparation. With professional filing services often costing hundreds of dollars, participants saved an estimated $400 per return keeping about $6,800 in their own pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Altogether, the total economic impact of the program reached nearly $20,000 across the communities served. For many households, that money goes toward everyday needs like groceries, bills, and savings, making a real difference close to home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some, the experience also brought peace of mind. Filing taxes can be stressful, especially for those unsure of what they might owe. One participant shared, \u201cI tried to file on my own and thought I was going to owe. I was so surprised when I found out I was getting a refund.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others appreciated how simple the process was. With a straightforward, two-step system, participants were able to submit their documents and receive reliable, professional support without the confusion of doing it alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Programs like VITA reflect UGA Extension\u2019s ongoing commitment to supporting the financial well-being of Oglethorpe County residents. By offering practical, no-cost services, Extension continues to meet people where they are and provide resources that make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the program\u2019s success and positive response from the community, UGA Extension plans to offer VITA services again in 2027, with hopes of reaching even more families in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residents are encouraged to stay connected with UGA Extension in Oglethorpe County for updates on future programs and events. In addition to tax assistance, Extension offers educational opportunities throughout the year focused on financial literacy, health, nutrition, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This tax season, local residents received a helpful boost thanks to the University of Georgia Extension Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) program, which brought free tax preparation services to the community through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. In Oglethorpe County, 15 individuals and families received one-on-one support filing their taxes. In total, 17 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":538,"featured_media":828,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-and-consumer-sciences"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/538"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=827"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":829,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/827\/revisions\/829"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/oglethorpe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}