“People who complain about taxes can be divided into two classes: men and women,” an unknown author once said.
Though April 15 marks the usual deadline for filing taxes, this year the filing deadline was extended to Monday because of Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia.
Millions of people each year place their trust in agencies they believe will find the largest tax return possible. The Sandra Day O’ Connor College of Law is helping to connect international students to free tax preparation services like the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.
“We have helped international students with their taxes for at least 15 years now,” said Debora Ilea, president of VITA and second-year law student.
VITA members who prepare the taxes do so at the law college, she said. VITA is a student organization and an Internal Revenue Service sponsored program.
“All volunteers are certified through the IRS,” Ilea said.
According to the IRS website, international students may be classified as aliens temporarily present in the U.S. as scholars, trainees, researchers and exchange visitors, and they all have special rules pertaining to the taxation of their income.
“[International students] really don’t have anywhere else to go,” Ilea said.
Several websites offer free tax preparation filing services such as IRS E-File, Turbo Tax and Taxslayer.com.
Linguistics and Spanish junior Lyndsey Grinstead is able to file her taxes through a family friend.
“If I was an international student and had no idea how to file, I would definitely take advantage of these services,” Grinstead said.
The Consumer Advocacy and Protection Program, a student-run organization within ASU’s law college, dedicates time during tax season to provide free tax preparation help. CAPP provides their services to U.S. residents, community members and students.
Once a semester, members of CAPP and VITA load onto “The Justice Bus,” where they travel around Arizona and provide free tax preparation services. The Justice Bus service started in 2009.
“The Justice Bus itself is a collaborative effort that brings together information providers and the individuals to areas of the state without [similar] resources,” president of CAPP Stephanie Loquvam said.
Aside from taxes, CAPP can also provide legal consultations.
“We also are working to offer Bankruptcy 101 to orient [individuals] on what that process is,” Loquvam said.
Though there is a wide variety of tax resources available at ASU, some students still are wary of taking advantage of these offers.
Journalism senior Albert Schweitzer said although the student volunteers offer a great service to the community, private agencies are “more invested” in their clients because they are receiving a profit.
“You’re getting what you pay for,” Schweitzer said.
Reach the reporter at cstarboa@asu.edu
