Personal Taxes and I.D. Fraud

We know that the process of filing taxes can certainly feel overwhelming, especially as a student. The information and resources included on this page are intended to answer some frequently asked questions students have when it comes to taxes, and to serve as a starting place for students to conduct their own research. Peer Financial Counseling strongly suggests students consult a licensed tax professional for specific questions about the tax filing process.

 

In most cases, if you have a job in which you earn an income, you will need to file taxes before the deadline of April 15th each year. Your employer will provide a W-2 form, which is used to report wages paid to an employee and taxes withheld from them by the employer. After obtaining a W-2, you can begin filing a 1040 tax form to see if you might qualify for a tax return. Some students will also receive a 1098-T form from Student Financial Services in January. Follow this link for more information on the 1098-T form.

A handout containing brief summaries from each section of the Taxes and I.D. Fraud webpage.

 

Most students today spend a majority of their time in an online environment through social networking sites, television streaming services, online shopping, and more. With all of that personal data out there, it's important to be aware of potential threats to your electronic identity and learn how to safeguard yourself from them.

 

If you have been a victim of identity theft, it's important to follow these three steps as quickly as possible.

 

  1. Contact one of the three credit bureaus to request a credit freeze. This prevents anyone from opening up new lines of credit under your Social Security Number.
  2. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Call 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338) or access the FTC's identity theft affidavit online.
  3. File a police report.

Resources

Personal Taxes

I.D. Fraud

 

Sign Up For a Counseling Session

To schedule a session with a counselor, please email [email protected] with your name, the time and day you want to meet, and a brief summary of your questions. The Peer Financial Counseling headquarters is located on Central Grounds, in Room 245 of the Georges Student Center. Counselors will be holding office hours from 1 - 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, each week.