Students Getting Their Taxes Done for Free

Accounting Students are Qualified

By Jillian Gandsey and Raielle Peterson

BSU’s Income Taxes II class has been doing student and community member’s taxes for eight years now.  The students volunteer their time on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. in room 14 of Decker Hall.  Also, the IRS sponsors the program to encourage everyone to get their taxes done so it’s free of charge.

“We do free e-file for state and federal, which usually the state taxes would have to be paid for,” stated Sandra Kranz, the accounting professor in charge.  An e-file is a fast and paperless way to file your individual federal and state income taxes online.  Last year nearly 70 million people used an e-file for their taxes.

The IRS is also really promoting is Earn Income Tax Credit (EIC.)  An EIC can essentially get a citizen more money back if their income is low enough and reduces the amount of tax you owe. “It’s to encourage people to work, opposed to being on welfare,” said Kranz.

Prior to getting your taxes done you should make sure that you have your W2 form and social security number with you and also if you have 1099 or a 1098.  You can also bring a copy of last years return if possible and any other documents you have received pertinent to your taxes.  If you are renting you will receive your Certificate of Rent Paid (CRP) from your landlord.  This can help renters obtain rent credit when they do their taxes.  If you own a home, you can obtain property tax rebates.  The only requirement for getting your taxes done here is that your income must be under $50,000.

Jessica Cox, a student in the Income
Tax II class helps a community member
filer her taxes. 

The accounting students who volunteer their time are usually receiving public service hours, which are required for the Income Tax II class.  Another requirement for handling others taxes are the students must take and pass the IRS Special Enrollment Examination, which qualifies them.

Sunil Mathew, who was a student at BSU 7 years ago, has been getting his taxes done here for 8 years. “It was just as helpful as going to the places where you have to pay for it,” he said. He also mentioned that he enjoyed working with students and that they were very patient with him. Kranz said that the whole thing got started with helping international student, which Mathew was considered to be. 

Another community member, Ryan Deering said, “the only pro that getting your taxes done somewhere other than here was that they can write you out a check and you can cash it the same day.”

The students will also be volunteering in Blackduck on Saturday, March 19^th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

The free tax help has had a difficult time advertising to students,
but there are some advertisements around campus. 

Pictures by Raielle Peterson and Jillian Gandsey