Education

Ga. Businesses Can Get Tax Credits If Employees Earn GEDs

September 8th, 2015

In this Saturday, May 31, 2014 photo, members of the graduating class and faculty attend the SCAD Commencement in Atlanta. On Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, the College Board said the average cost of attending college crept up again in 2014. (AP Photo/John Amis)

John Amis / Associated Press

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Georgia businesses can now get tax credits if they let their employees enroll in GED classes.

The Technical College System of Georgia is urging businesses and employees to take advantage of the program.

State data show about 18 percent of adults in Georgia don’t have a high school diploma or haven’t completed the General Educational Development, or high school equivalency, tests.

TCSG Commissioner Gretchen Corbin says earning a GED could help some workers advance in their current jobs. “It’s all about the lifelong process of educating ourselves and bettering ourselves,” Corbin says. “This gives the opportunity for individuals who haven’t yet passed the GED greater encouragement to do so.”

She says companies will benefit by having a better-educated workforce and through tax credits. There are two types of credits available:

Businesses willing to pay for employees to take the GED test can earn a $400 credit for each person who passes. Employers can receive a $1,200 credit for each worker who successfully completes a GED class and test if the employer pays for both.