DeKALB | A certain date in the near future has everyone on edge: April 15, the day taxes are due.

The fateful day falls on a Sunday this year. All tax returns must be postmarked by the following Monday, April 16, said Carl Campbell, assistant chair of the NIU Department of Economics.

“If you owe the government money and you are late to turn in the forms, you will be penalized,” said Campbell.

There are also penalties for doing your taxes incorrectly.

Campbell said tax evasion is when you don’t report all income or have illegitimate deductions.

The best way to do your taxes is to use software, Campbell said.

“I used TurboTax and I thought it worked pretty well,” said Campbell. “It made it a little easier.”

The NIU Department of Accountancy also offers NIU students and DeKalb residents tax help with a program called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.

“VITA is a group of accounting students that have been certified to do returns,” said VITA coordinator Kurt Sanders.

VITA runs Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, through April 13, at Founders Memorial Library, and is run through the Department of Accountancy of the College of Business. The returns are done by hand by the volunteers. Sanders said they have finished more than 100 returns already.

“Most students need to file the 1040EZ form,” Sanders said.