Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Blog
Adjust Your Withholding Today
Did you owe an unexpectedly large amount of taxes this year? Or maybe you received a much bigger refund than expected? Let’s take a look at how you can avoid these surprises next year. What…
Summer Activities Could Impact Next Year’s Tax Return
To quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.” You might add, “Plan for taxes.” Here are two activities that could impact a student’s tax return…
Everything You Need to Know About the 2025 Tax Filing Season
With the 2025 Tax Filing season opening January 27th and the filing deadline on April 15th, 2025, here is everything you need to know for this tax season. Available Help For tax questions visit IRS.gov…
Taxpayer Rights and Advocacy
Understanding Your Taxpayer Rights: How the IRS Protects You Each taxpayer has fundamental rights as outlined by the IRS. It is important for taxpayers to be aware of these rights to ensure fairness when dealing…
Scam Targeting Clean Energy Tax Credit
What is the IRS Dirty Dozen list? A variety of common scams that taxpayers experience anytime (mainly during tax filing season). Knowing these scams can help keep your personal information safe! Dirty Dozen Fake tax…
The IRS Dirty Dozen
What is the IRS Dirty Dozen list? A variety of common scams that taxpayers experience anytime (mainly during tax filing season). Knowing these scams can help keep your personal information safe! Dirty Dozen Fake tax…
Hobby or Business?
Here’s what you need to know if you have a side hustle: Businesses operate to make a profit and hobbies are for recreation. For both businesses and hobbies, if you are paid through a payment…
Newlyweds Tax Checklist
Are there wedding bells in your future? A taxpayer’s marital status as of December 31st determines their tax filing options for the entire year. Make sure you: Report a name change Update address Check withholding…
Where’s my Tax Refund?
If you are still awaiting your tax refund, use this easy tool provided by the IRS to check its status: IRS.gov/refunds. What you need to get started Your SSN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number Your…
Identifying Third Party Scammers and Protecting Your Personal Information while setting up an IRS (Internal Revenue Service) Online Account
An IRS Online Account is the one stop shop used by taxpayers to access account information including tax records, balances, and payments. Over the past few years, there has been a rise in third party…
What Should You Do If You Missed the April 15 Tax Return Deadline?
The federal tax return filing deadline (April 15) has come and gone, but what happens to taxpayers who did not file? The Cal Poly LITC has compiled several important facts, information, and potential solutions for…
Unlocking the Tax Puzzle: Independent vs. Dependent
Are you being falsely claimed as a Dependent? Are you supposed to be filing your tax return and you’re not? This article will help you understand what steps you need to take to make sure…
Do I Qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the most common credits that are claimed, but by members that do not qualify. On the other hand, many Americans that do qualify are not claiming…
Avoiding Tax Scams with the LITC
With the rise of technology and online platforms in the 21st century, the ability to generate tax scams is higher than ever. As a result, we’ve compiled a list of common tax scams and how…
Tax Filing Tips for College Students
The tax filing deadline was extended to October 16th due to natural disasters and storms in a number of states, including California. As students continue to file taxes, the LITC has compiled a number of…
LITC Highlights: 2022
The LITC has been working hard into the 2022-2023 school year. Below are just a few milestones the LITC reached in 2022: Working on over 100 cases, the LITC has numerous successes. Below are two…
Tax Filing Tips
Some taxpayers can receive their refunds as soon as 1 week after filing when they start early in the tax season before the IRS becomes more inundated with returns from across the country. Will you…
Be Aware of Cyber Scams
The IRS and partners at the Security Summit are encouraging taxpayers to be aware of potential scams that pose a risk to your sensitive information such as your Social Security numbers (SSN), Tax Identification numbers…
Student Loan Forgiveness: Will it happen and if so, how is it going to affect me?
There has been a great deal of talk in the media, politics and even at universities about the possibility of student loan forgiveness. Both the previous administration under former President Trump and the current one…
The IRS will now allow digital signatures for certain forms, as well as the option to send and receive encrypted documents through email!
In the past, the IRS has required physical signatures. That often means taxpayers and representatives mail documents back and forth, unless they can meet in person. Meeting in person has been tentative for about two…
How the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 May Affect Your 2021 Tax Return
2022’s tax season has already begun and 2021, just like the year before, was a difficult year for many people due to the continuing global pandemic. So we would like to highlight some expanded tax…
Important updates for 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments!
On January 11, 2022, the IRS updated their frequently-asked-questions regarding Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit payments to help eligible families who are preparing to file their 2021 tax return. There have been…
Preparing for Tax Season
Tax season is now in full-swing! That being said, it is crucial to gather all year-end documents in order to avoid processing and refund delays, as well as ensure a complete and accurate tax return.…
Annual Report to Congress
Erin Collins, the National Taxpayer Advocate for the IRS, recently released her 2021 Annual Report to Congress. This report details the top ten problems that taxpayers faced in calendar year 2021, which Collins describes as…