Math Errors the most common of tax blunders, USU accounting students say

A group called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance will be available on the bottom floor of the Merrill Library to help students prepare their income tax forms.

The group, trained and sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, is comprised of volunteer accounting students who belong to the National Accounting Fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi. VITA will help prepare forms 1040, 2441 for child dependent care credit, 8812 for additional child tax credit and 8863 for education credits.

“We’re basically here to help people know what to put in the lines,” said Micki Schwartz, a graduate student who will be completing her Masters Degree this May.

Mathematical errors are the most common that slow down tax returns, Schwartz said.

“Always double check the math,” she said.

The National Association of Tax Practitioners makes these suggestions for filing income taxes:

Filers should make sure to sign the return in the proper place.

* All W-2 forms should be stapled to the front of form 1040.

* The return should be mailed to the proper place.

* The correct address is located in the tax booklet the IRS sends.

* Make sure the Social Security number is entered correctly on the form.

Schwartz had one last piece of advice for students with scholarships.

“Scholarships for tuition, books and academic fees are excluded from gross income,” she said.

So academic scholarships are not taxable.

VITA will be available until the income tax deadline April 15.