As the April 15 deadline for tax payment rapidly approaches, many students and their families are filing forms for tax credit. However, few resources exist to assist students with their tax-form dilemmas.
Under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more students and parents will qualify to receive more tax credit to pay for college over the next two years. But in addition to receiving the credit, many working students must file a federal tax return, depending on their income.
While both Penn’s Office of International Programs and the Graduate Student Center provide online guides for students with tax-related questions, administrators could not confirm any on-campus service for assisting students with the filing process.
“While we recognize this is a concern, the OIP does not have the specific expertise or resources to provide assistance to Penn’s international students and scholars on US tax law and tax compliance,” OIP director Anne Waters wrote in a statement.
College senior Varun Balan, who works at the Rodin College House front desk, said he didn’t have any trouble filling out his tax forms because he Googled his tax questions and asked his parents.
Maureen Devenny, a College junior who works at the Admissions Office, said her parents filled out her form. Neither Balan nor Devenny had heard of any services on campus to assist students.
For those who are having trouble understanding their tax forms, Student Financial Services Assistant Director Peter Eschenbrenner suggested looking at the Internal Revenue Service website, which can direct students to free tax-filing services.
Some students might be confused about the definition of a dependent, according to Eschenbrenner. “This makes a huge difference, and it’s important that they check with their parents,” he said.
If tax forms are filed incorrectly, Eschenbrenner continued, the IRS may delay a student’s refunds. If a student owes money, the IRS charges interest based on the delay — so mistakes can result in financial consequences.
Penn’s resource guides for taxes can be found at the OIP and GSC websites. A map of IRS offices, local contact information for IRS services and a tax guide for students is available on the IRS website.
