April has rolled around and for many students this means that it is time, once again, to file their taxes. This can be an uneasy time for those students who, now on their own, are filing for the first time.

“I’m scared to file my taxes because I don’t know what I am doing, and I don’t want the IRS to send me to jail,” said Lindsay Griffith, a Family and Consumer Sciences major from Cordova.

Fortunately, for Griffith and others like her, the tax preparation process can be easier than many believe. With the help of the federal government’s online reference, www.irs.gov, you can be your own accounting professional and zip through tax season unscathed.

First, it is important to note that unless you have made over a certain amount of money you do not need to file at all.

“You only have to file if you have made anything over $600,” said Brad Livingston, a UTM alumnus and certified professional accountant.

If you fall into that category, then bust out your W-2’s and head to the nearest computer because Livingston suggests that students use online tax paying.

“Filing online is pretty self-explanatory. It is more accurate than filing on paper, and you get your refund check faster,” Livingston said. A list of online payment sites are available on the IRS Web site.

For students who have a large income, trade stocks, and have any other tax document other than a W-2, Livingston recommends getting a professional to prepare their taxes.

The deadline this year to file taxes is Monday, April 17, so be sure to have any envelopes postmarked for this date.

For other tax tips and suggestions, the IRS Web site has a link for students on its home page.

Most importantly, just keep in mind that in the end a fat tax refund check could be your just rewards for being a model citizen and reminding the federal government that it owes you money.