Students in need of help with their taxes do not need to turn to their parents.

There are resources students can use to get the help they need to file their income taxes. There are tax programs available online such as TurboTax, but for those who want to talk with someone in person, NIU as well as DeKalb have ways to help.

“The easiest way for a student to get help with their taxes is using a software package like TurboTax,” said Chris Powers, graduate assistant for accounting. “Or by using the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program here at NIU.”

The VITA program provides free tax return preparation for qualifying NIU students and members of the community.

 

Brad Cripe, assistant professor of accounting, runs the VITA program at NIU.

“Our trained volunteers help prepare basic federal and state tax returns and help students know what returns to file and when to file them,” Cripe said. “We help students who are either dependents of their parents or students who are not.”

VITA will be helping students prepare tax returns on Friday afternoons in Barsema Hall starting Feb. 18 and running through April 15, excluding the Friday of spring break.

“We welcome anyone who has a basic tax return to stop by and let us help them prepare their return,” Cripe said.

 

When students go for help, there are a few things they need to bring with them. Students should have a copy of their return from last year if available, along with all important tax documents like their W-2 Form. Also, they need any scholarship information and any payments made to NIU by the student.

“I think that one of the most important things a person could do when preparing their taxes is gather all the information they can,” Powers said. “A good example of something to gather is pay stubs they received throughout the year. It will help you give the most accurate information on your return whether you or someone else prepares your return.”

The VITA program isn’t the only way students can get help.

 

“We are always willing to help,” said Senaida Avalos, office manager at H&R Block, 830 W. Lincoln Hwy.

H&R Block sees a lot of clients come in around the third week of January into early February. Then it picks back up in April when the panic sets in, Avalos said.

“We see students who will always forget that one summer job that you forget to file,” Avalos said. “It’s your money that’s out there.”

H&R Block is offering free Form 1040EZ tax return filing through Feb. 15.

Ken Boersma, H&R Block tax specialist, explained more on what students should do.

“Well [filing taxes] is important because it’s required,” Boersma said. “The rules are not hard to follow but students are afraid of the IRS.”

According to Boersma, any single individual with an income of $9,300 or more must file their taxes. Even those with an income less than $9300 should still file because they can still receive a tax return.

The average unclaimed refund is $1,000 per person, Avalos said.

“We try to educate the client as much as possible,” Boersma said. “We take a look for free just to talk. Tax laws change every year so there’s always little things that can get by.”

Another source of relief can be found at Flash Tax, located at 2587 Sycamore Road, #A. According to its website, the business opened Jan. 10 and has been serving the DeKalb County area since 1998.

“We have a lot of local parents who have kids going to school out of state bring in their paperwork from the school,” said Flash Tax owner Bernie Boona. “We tell everyone filing for the first time to make sure they’ve got all the paperwork.”

Boona also recommends students check with their parents to see who is taking on the exemptions. The more commonly seen tax form for students is the 1040EZ because it does not have a lot of complicated things going into it such as mortgages or investments.

After President Bush’s tax cuts were extended last year, it changed tax codes for the IRS, Boona said. It pushed back those trying to file with itemized deductions, like mortgages, to mid-February so tax firms can help prepare these files but cannot transmit them just yet.

The Northern Star tried to contact Jackson Hewitt in DeKalb, The Clausen Group and Boone & Johnson but could not be reached by press time.