0
Votes

Students have on-campus help filing taxes

By Annie Vangsnes

Friday, March 12, 2010

LSS and SUA tax workshops for U.S. Citizens

March 24

April 7

April 13

All workshops are 6 to 8 p.m. in Harris computer lab in the Kansas Union.

The next three LSS workshops for international students

March 23 9 to 11 a.m.

March 25 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

March 26 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

All workshops are held in Budig Computer Instruction Lab, 10 Budig Hall

The full schedule is at www.legalservices.ku.edu

Schedule for KU law student walk-in service

Monday

6 to 8:45 p.m.

Green Hall, Computer Lab-306

Tuesday

1:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Penn House, 1035 Pennsylvania

Wednesday

3 to 5:45 p.m.

Green Hall, Computer Lab-306

Thursday

3 to 4:45 p.m.

Ballard Community Center, 708 Elm

5 to 6:45 p.m.

Lawrence Housing Authority, 1600 Haskell #187

Friday

10 to 11:45 a.m.

Green Hall, Computer Lab-306

Things to bring along

Forms such as W-2, 1099, 1098-T, 1042-S, or other income statements, including scholarships and grants

Forms 1099 or other statements to report interest, dividends, or capital gains from stock sales

*Note: If you had significant investment activity in 2009, you may be referred to another professional for your tax preparation.

Print out of Tuition and Fees statement from KU Enroll & Pay for each semester enrolled in 2009

Copies of your federal & state tax returns from last year

Your checkbook to get the routing number & bank account number for direct deposit refunds

If you plan to itemize deductions: receipts for your medical expenses, home mortgage interest, gifts to charity, real estate and personal property tax paid, and unreimbursed employee expenses paid

Students should have no trouble finding free help with taxes during the next month. There are several on-campus options for students who need help filing taxes.

Legal Services for Students is working with Student Union Activities to put on three workshops during the next month. Students who attend the workshops will file their taxes online with free software provided by the IRS and attorneys from LSS will be there to answer questions. LSS also provides workshops for international students who fill out a different tax form.

SUA special events coordinator Jabiz Behzadpour, a junior from Topeka, said she thinks students get confused and don’t know where to start.

“It’s something you always have other people do for you,” Behzadpour said, “but it’s definitely a good skill that would be helpful to learn.”

Michele Kessler, LSS associate director, said she wants students to learn how to do their taxes themselves, but also have help along the way. She said if students have further problems after the workshop or if they have a complicated issue, they can make an appointment through LSS to get help.

“First go to the workshop because you might be able to get it done by yourself,” Kessler said, “and if not, come in and make an appointment.”

Kessler said spring is the office’s busiest time of the year and they have two attorneys assigned specifically to help with taxes.

Students can also get help from KU law students any day of the week through its free walk-in service. Their services are open to everyone, not just students.

— Edited by Cory Bunting

Comments

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Advertisement