April brings showers of tax documents to Oregon State University’s doorstep.
For many students and community members, working to meet the federal deadline of April 15 to file taxes is challenging, according to Alec Tu, site coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program at OSU-Cascades.
“A lot of people don’t have any background about taxes, and they never learn what taxes are and what they need to prepare,” Tu said.
“Things change every year, and even those (who) have some background (in taxes) … it also confuses us.”
Tu said that most tax preparation services are out of budget for many students and community members and that a lack of support can lead to fears of getting fined and cause people to lose out on tax credit and refund opportunities.
Issues can also come from language barriers and the technical wording and complexities in tax documents.
The OSU VITA program, sponsored as a part of a nationwide IRS initiative, aims to help students and community members through free tax preparation.
Through the program, individuals book an appointment with a trained volunteer tax preparer who helps guide them through preparing their tax return and submitting it to the IRS.
Those who make under $67,000 a year, who are 60 years of age or older, persons with disabilities, limited English-speaking individuals and students qualify for their services.
Appointments to get help at the Corvallis, Cascades and Lane County extension campuses can be booked through the VITA website. Translators and volunteers who speak languages other than English are available to help as well.
Students should bring a photo ID, W-2 tax forms from employers, any 1099 forms and other documents to their appointment as outlined on the VITA website.
According to Tu, a current goal of the OSU VITA program is to increase awareness about the services VITA offers.
Tu noted that VITA also looks for volunteer tax preparers. Students who volunteer get trained and certified as tax preparers, help community members and can receive internship credit.
Tu emphasized that the VITA program provides useful services to those in the communities it serves.
“Some of the reasons I come back (to work with VITA) is I see the happiness and appreciation from a lot of returning clients from last year coming back,” Tu said. “A lot of places around ask for a couple $100 or almost $1000 to help them out, and us giving them a free service and answering a lot of their questions and help them with their tax situation — that is something they really appreciate.”
Tu also recommends the American Association of Retired Persons Tax-Aide program’s resources, which are available for free to taxpayers who qualify, with a focus on those who have a low to moderate income.
AARP Tax-Aide volunteers will be at the Corvallis Public Library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. until April 11 to provide free help with tax preparation.
More information about the Tax-Aide services offered at the library and who might qualify can be found on the library’s website or by calling 541-250-0268.
Tu recommended pulling tax documents together and getting ready to file as soon as possible. She also urged people to not be afraid of seeking help from available resources.
“Taxes are kind of scary for someone who doesn’t know about them. So try to reach out. Don’t try to do things alone,” Tu said.