Student Taxes - Financial Wellness Center

Schedule an appointment or self file

Know your dependency status

You are technically considered a dependent if:

Your parents cover more than 50% of your support

Support here is considered the sum of your living expenses like shelter, food, clothing, medical and dental care, education, transportation, etc.

You are under the age of 24 by the end of the year

Enrolled in school full time

Discuss with your parents or caretaker prior to filing.

Gather income documents

Income Documents - could come in mail or electronically

W2 income from employment
1099 documents (bank statements, investment documents)
1099 NEC - income received for Independent Contractors

Adjustments/deduction documents

1098-T Tuition paid (not all students will get one, check in CIS)
- Receipts for other qualified educational expenses like books and equipment
1098-E Student Loan interest paid
Other qualified expenses like medical bills, mortgage interest, charity payments, etc.
Expenses for work expenses if you got a 1099-NEC

What to bring to your appointment

Picture I.D.

Social Security Card

Previous tax return documentation

Bank routing number and account number

Frequently Asked Questions

The IRS will begin accepting tax returns around Feb 1 each tax season and the deadline to pay taxes is around April 15. If you need more time to gather all of your documents you can file for an extension through Oct. 15.

If your income is over the Standard Deduction, $14,600 for 2024, you need to file
If you earned less than that and you had income taxes withheld, you should file to get that money back
Even if you didn’t have any income you could qualify for refundable credits, you should file to get that money

When in doubt, ask us at the Financial Wellness Center.

Yes! There are two tax credits for independent students, or dependent students parents/caretakers. The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC). The AOTC can be claimed for the first four years of higher education, and the LLC can be claimed beyond those four years for subsequent educational costs.

Create a plan for your refund in alignment with your financial goals! You can save it, spend it, or invest it! Book an appointment and we can help you make aligned decisions!