Today is the day that often strikes fear into the hearts of all citizens — ranging from the average Joe, to the neighborhood postal worker, to even some University students.
Today, federal tax forms are due to the Internal Revenue Service.
Wendy Graham, a tax specialist at Jackson Hewitt, said the tax filing process can be easily misunderstood.
She said she advises students not to file without consulting their parents.
“The IRS has special rules that allow parents to continue to claim their unmarried children as dependents if the child continues on to college,” she said.
Graham said a parent must provide more than 50 percent of a child’s support for the child to qualify as a dependent.
Graham said students still will get a full refund under Louisiana tax law, even though the parents claim them.
She said there are several advantages to using a tax service to prepare a tax return.
At Jackson Hewitt, students get a 50 percent discount on tax preparation fees along with the standard free estimates of what the refund or balance will be on the return.
“We get the facts, and can help determine the proper way to file and get the greatest tax advantage,” she said.
Jennifer Comfort, a mass communication junior, said she does not do her own taxes.
“I have no idea how to do them,” she said.
Comfort, who works on campus, said her mother does her taxes for her. She said because of this, she has never considered getting professional help.
“It’s no use going to a tax service, because they would take all the money I made,” Comfort said.
While many University students still rely on their parents to complete their tax forms, some students file their own.
Jeremy Nuse, an educational leadership graduate student, said he files his own taxes.
“It’s cheaper than having someone else do them,” he said.
Nuse said he used an Internet tax aid to help fill out his forms this year, which greatly simplified the process.
“I didn’t have to go through any forms,” Nuse said.
Liz Repass, an English freshman, said she files her own as well.
Repass said her mom works and has four children to support, and so she is forced to be independent.
“Since I’m in college, I’m old enough to do it,” Repass said. “I just got my tax form and filled it out.”
Dave Ritter, a tax specialist at H&R Block, said students are most likely filling out the simple W-2 form, which is a one-page form.
Ritter advised most students to complete the form themselves because it is relatively easy.
“When I was a student, I did it myself,” he said.
H&R Block will do the form at a cost, and the charge starts at $71 and increases as the return becomes more complicated to file.
He said some students that are the head of single-parent homes or have children and families may benefit from a tax preparation service.
“It depends on how complicated it is,” Ritter said.
State income tax forms are due May 15.