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University Daily Kansan / Thursday, April 9, 1992
GettingabreakfromTAXES
IRS warns procrastinators of last-minute filing errors
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — One week before the deadline for filing federal tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service yesterday issued its annual "don't panic" alert.
Expecting about 38 million returns over the next couple weeks, the IRS said haste may lead to mistakes, including: math errors, especially when subtracting figures; forgetting to sign the return or payment check; and omitting W-2s and other required forms or schedules.
Through Friday, the IRS had received 67.4 million returns, up 1.1 percent from the 66.7 million a year ago. The rush to file early in order to get refunds has slowed considerably in the last two weeks. Last week, 5.4 million returns were received, down 8.8 percent from the same period in 1991.
The IRS has processed 58.9 million
returns this year, up 3 percent from a year ago.
More than 10.1 million couples and individuals have filed returns electronically, a 45 percent increase over a year ago. The IRS has heavily promoted electronic filing as a way to reduce errors and produce a refund in half the time required for a paper return.
Nearly 47.2 million refunds have been certified by the IRS. The $4 billion total averages about $976 per account. A $002 average at this time last year.
A tollic-free telephone number — 1-800-829-4477 — allows taxpayers to check the status of their refunals. Callers will need their Social Security number and the exact amount of their refund before calling.
IRS officials say they expect 5 million people to extend the midnight April 15 deadline for filing returns by
mailing a Form 4868. That does not extend the deadline for paying a tax owed; a check for the estimated total must accompany Form 4868. That will gain an extra four months to prepare a return.
However, a person who cannot pay the full balance should file on time and include as large a payment as possible, the IRS said. A bill for the balance plus interest will be mailed within about two months, and a person who cannot pay by that time should call the IRS and try to set up an installment payment schedule, the agency said.
Commissioner Shirley Peterson has said publicly that the IRS will be more lenient in agreeing to installment plans in an effort to make it easier on taxpayers.
KU accounting students ease tax time for Lawrence citizens
By Kristi Fogler Special to the Kansan
Eric Ison, Lyndon senior, tries to make taxes a little less taxing.
Ison is a member of the KU Accounting Club, which is sponsoring a local branch of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program.
The program, which began in 1970, is a nationwide free service designed to help those who may not be able to obtain paid income tax assistance.
VITA targets people who do not speak English as a native language, who are disabled or who have served in the military.
Others also can ask VITA for assistance. People who need help filing their Kansas state and federal tax returns can turn to VITA if they need to fill out the 1042E or the 1040A forms.
In Lawrence, both the Accounting Club and KU Legal Services for Students have set up VITA offices where people can go for tax help.
While the Legal Services' office at Burge Union serves primarily students, the Accounting Club's twooffices, at the Penn House, 1035 Pennsylvania St. and the Indian Center of Lawrence, 1423 Haskell Ave., serve mostly low-income men, women and families trying to survive.
Elenore Madbull, a single mother with a mentally disabled son who said she could not afford to pay for professional help, went earlier this year to the VITA office at the Indian Center.
"I couldn't come here, I'd have to pay for it to be
"done," Madbull said. "I'm trying to get my son into a
group home, and I need to pay for food. My friend went to H & R Block and paid almost $50."
About 20 students from the Accounting Club volunteer two hours a week. VTVA operates during the "tax season," from January through April 15, the Internal Revenue Service's deadline for filing income tax returns.
Volunteers must have an accounting background or be accounting majors. They must be familiar with the 350-page manual that explains how to fill out simple state and federal tax return forms. They also must pass an open-book test and attend a two-hour seminar.
Jeff Crots, Leroy junior, said that being a part of VITA had helped him with his taxes as well.
"I've learned the tax laws and an appreciation for what I have," he said.
Crofts said he had had some very positive experiences volunteering.
"Someone came in and had five dependents.
The person made about $3,000." he said.
He helped file a return that would pay the family $1,600.
Mistakes do occasionally happen, but Tricia Morford, Topeka junior and a VITA volunteer, said it was difficult to make a mistake and not catch it.
"OnmyfirstreturnIwasreallynervous,"shesaid.
Label
For the year Jan. Dec. 31, 1991, or other tax year beginning 1991 ending
Your first name and initial
If a joint return, spouse's first name and initial
Home address (number and street). If you have a P.O. box, see page 11).
City, town or post office state, and ZIP code. If you have a foreign address, see page 11.
Do you want $1 to go to this fund?
If joint return, does your spouse want $1 to go to this fund?
Filing Status
Single
Married filing joint return (even if only one had income)
Married filing separate return. Enter spouse's social security no. above and full name here.
Head of household (with qualifying person). (See page 12.) If the qualifying person is a child but not your dependent.
Enter this child's name here. ▶
Qualifying widow/other with dependent child (year spouse died ▶ 19 ) . (See page 12.)
Exemptions
(See page 12.)
If more than six dependents see page 13
d If your child didn't live with you but is claimed as your dependent under a pre-1985 agreement, check here ▶
e Total number of exemptions claimed
7 Wages, salaries, tips, etc. (attach Form(s) W-2)
8a Taxable interest income (also attach Schedule B if over $400)
b Tax-stemp interest income (see page 16). DON'T include on line 8a
8b Dividend income (also attach Schedule B if any)
9 Taxable refunds of state and local income taxes, if any, from worksheet on page 16.
10 Taxable gains or losses (attach Schedule C)
11 Alimony received
12 Business income or loss (attach Schedule C)
13 Capital gain or loss (attach Schedule D)
14 Capital gain distributions not reported on line 13 (see page 17)
15 Other gains or losses (attach Form 4797)
16a Total IRA distributions 16a
17a Total pensions and annuities 17a
18 Rents, royalties, partnerships, estates, trusts, etc. (attach Schedule E)
19 Farm income or (loss) (attach Schedule F)
20 Unemployment compensation (insurance) (see page 18)
21a Social security benefits 21a
22 Other income (list type and amount—see page 19)
23 Add the amounts shown in the far right column for lines 7 through 22. This is your total income ▶
24a Your IRA deduction, from applicable worksheet on page 20 or 21
24a b Spouse's IRA deduction, from applicable worksheet on page 20 or 21
25 One-half of self-employment tax (see page 21)
26 Set-employed health insurance deduction, from worksheet on page 22
27 Keegh retirement plan and self-employed SEP deduction
28 Penalty on early withdrawal of savings
29 Alimony paid. Recipient's SSN ▶
30 Act lines 24a through 29. These are your total adjustments ▶
31 Subtract line 30 from line 29. This is your adjusted gross income. If this amount is less than $2,1290 and a child lived with you, see page 42 to find out if you can claim the "Earned Income Credit." on line 26.
Cat No. 11320B
Morfordsaidsheandafellow VITA workeralways double-checked each other's work to make sure there were no mistakes.
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