Church offers tax service
to students
By Elizabeth Eble
Staff Writer
One-on-one tax preparation services are offered
for international students in the library of the University Church now
through April 16.
The services are offered by Darla Mize, account
assistant for interdisciplinary engineering, and Neil Smith, tax administrator
for disbursements.
Walk-ins are welcome from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on
Mondays, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturdays. Prices range from $15 to $35, said Jodie Lawrence, an office
assistant at University Church.
Appointments can be made by calling 446-8059.
"We decided to start this up to see how well
it would go because we know that this is something (international students)
struggle with," said Mize, "Not just anybody is able to prepare
their taxes."
Both Mize and Smith have several years of experience
with international tax laws and regulations and work with Purdue’s
international staff, said Lawrence.
Mize previously worked with the Internal Revenue
Service for several years.
The cost is competitive compared to H&R Block,
which charges $75 to do a 1040NR, but the reason for the start of these
sessions was a lack of anyone in Lafayette with adequate knowledge of
international tax laws, said Mize.
"We advertise for internationals because there
is nowhere here for them to get their taxes done," she said.
A volunteer income tax assistors service is held
free of charge at the West Lafayette Library on Saturdays, but it is
more of a classroom seminar type of setting and is not a one on one
tax preparations service, said Mize.
This service is open to anyone and customers are
requested to bring a W-2 or 1042S (Income tax statement provided by
Purdue), IAP-66 or I-20, I-94, 1099-INT (bank form showing interest
income earned) and a passport or visa.
This service is in no way associated with Purdue
University, said Mize.
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