Taxing Duties

Students should take advantage of Temple’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

If you’re not familiar with the proverbial two certainties in life – death and taxes – now is the time to become familiar with the latter.

Income tax returns are to be filed on April 18, three days later than the traditional April 15 date, and students, especially those who might be filing for the first time, could be overwhelmed by the whirlwind of forms, confusing terms and the pressuring deadline.

But when it comes to tax time, it’s important to think clearly, file on time and, if necessary, seek the help you need.

If you’ve been avoiding that W-2 form sitting in your mail pile, and you don’t know where to start, it’s not too late. If you are unsure of where to start and earn less than $20,000 annually, you should take advantage of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for free tax preparation.

As reported in “Efficiency improves as VITA enters second year” Page 2, VITA has eight Philadelphia locations, including Main Campus’ location in the Ritter Annex.

“Tax law is so confusing,” Ashley Rivera, a Temple law student and VITA volunteer, told The Temple News. “It’s always changing. It’s worth it to not have to keep up on that kind of stuff.”

But while tax season can be confusing, that’s no reason to not stay informed about where you’re hard-earned money could be going and why.

After all, if you don’t file your own return, your amount due will likely increase with interest and penalties. If the IRS proceeds to file what it deems suitable for you, then your return will likely be stripped of any exemptions or benefits you may be entitled to.

Volunteers will continue to work at the Main Campus VITA, which also caters to families who earn less than $49,000 annually, through April 18 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.