Bulldogs prep for tax season

Tax season is here, and now is the time you’re starting to see the W2’s, 1098s, and other forms in your mailbox. And if you’re making paper, you’re also getting your paperwork together for the IRS. 

Some students who are just starting to navigate school and work are finding this time of year a little overwhelming. 

“It’s all new. It’s hard to make sense of all the information and even what to do, so honestly the entire process can be confusing,” said Sukhpreet Ranu, a business major at Fresno State.

Another common problem students face when filing is figuring out how to fill out all of the paperwork correctly. 

“As you get into those bigger tax brackets, you kind of don’t know where your income falls and you might owe some, you might get some back. If you do one thing wrong you could actually end up owing a lot of taxes or a lot back in taxes,” said George Cummings. 

The good news is, you can get help filing your taxes. 

Fresno State is one of the few campuses in California that has a Money Management Center. They provide students with financial coaching and resources for any money-related topic and then guide students to a tax preparer.

“There is an awesome organization in the community called United Way of Fresno and Madera county that can do tax preparation for free for the majority of the people,” said Ranu.

United Way services are available to taxpayers who make under $64,000. Ranu recommends keeping all tax documents together to stay organized. 

Get help with your finances at the Fresno State Money Management Center, or get assistance with your taxes by scheduling an appointment with United Way.