Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Fort Hays State U. students prepare for tax deadline
Jun Luo
The University Leader (Fort Hays State U.)
04/12/2007

(U-WIRE) HAYS, Kan. — Tax day is around the corner. For this year, because April 15 is Sunday and Washington, D.C., will celebrate the Emancipation Day on Monday, tax day will be Tuesday, April 17. That means that all the taxpayers will get two extra days to file their 2006 returns.

Although there is a two-day extension, some Fort Hays State University students still are intimidated by paying taxes. But it doesn't matter. Fort Hays State offers assistance to fill out IRS tax returns with its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in order to help those low-income taxpayers file their tax returns.

"IRS ... usually takes charge of training volunteers to help students get their tax return," said Stephanie Larsen, FHSU senior and coordinator of VITA.

During this year's tax season from Feb. 4 to April 3, every Tuesday and some Thursdays and Saturdays, the VITA organization on campus held three-hour sessions to help students file their documents, Larsen said.

"The VITA program is a volunteer program which aims at helping students know more about how the tax law works," said Charles Gnizak, associate professor of accounting. "Students are able to work with people who can help them with their tax return."

Larsen said, "Nearly all the students had sent their documents under the help of their parents before the tax deadline. They usually send them online."

Gnizak said most students don't encounter many difficulties in paying their taxes with the help of VITA.

"Because according to the tax law, there are some complicated cases for those who have made much money, and students are usually not rich. They just have some simple cases," Gnizak said.

Although all the VITA sessions of this tax season are gone, for those who haven't finished sending their documents, it is not too late. The tax deadline doesn't come until April 17.

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