Most Ball State University students seeking federal income taxes forms will have to look beyond campus boundaries because the Internal Revenue Service is no longer providing tax forms to the university.
Bracken Library used to provide the federal forms and continues to provide the Indiana state tax forms, said Diane Calvin, head of information services for university libraries. After the emergence of online tax forms, there have been fewer requests for hard copies, which is why the IRS no longer sends them, she said.
"We weren't happy about that so we tried to appeal," Calvin said. "We appealed to the IRS in person, but they still said 'No.'"
Students can pick up copies of federal tax forms at banks and post offices, she said.
Although students cannot get tax help from the university, they can receive help from other groups, including the IRS sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and Ball State accounting students.
TAX HELP FROM VITA
Volunteer Paul Parkison said VITA focuses on helping moderate- to low-income young adults and senior citizens.
The volunteers are in the meeting room at the Maring-Hunt branch of the Muncie Public Library from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday until April 17, he said.
The free service can make tax season easier and more profitable for people, Parkison said.
"You can go to a place like H&R Block where the average charge is $125," he said. "Some people may spend $125 and only get $150 back."
VITA files all tax returns electronically, which speeds up the process and gets people in and out of there in about 30 minutes, Parkison said.
"We can file both federal and state income taxes at once, then you can get your refund only a week later," he said. "About 90 percent of people file electronically. It's quicker and you don't have to pay postage."
Most tax offices only file federal or state tax forms, not both, Parkison said.
VITA serves about 80 Muncie residents a day and usually about a dozen Ball State students, Parkison said. Last year the program completed about 1,300 total tax returns, he said.
"I find it to be a rewarding experience," Parkison said. "The people who came in really appreciate us doing it."
TAX HELP FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS
International students can receive tax assistance from accounting students set tentatively for March 31, assistant accounting professor John Ledbetter said.
A location has not been set, but it will probably be in the Art and Journalism building, Ledbetter said.
"The rules are a bit different for them," he said. "They usually need a little more help because of those differences, so we go over the rules with them."
International students do not file joint tax returns, exemptions are not applicable and tax treaties the U.S. has with other countries are a few of the differences that can cause difficulty, Ledbetter said.
PLACES TO GET TAX FORMS:bsu.edu/library/electronicresources/referenceshelf/ then click on "Tax Forms."
Muncie Post Office501 W. Memorial Dr.Muncie, IN 47302(765)286-9600
Muncie IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center225 N. High St.Muncie, IN 47305(765)747-5533
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