irs.gov photo.

As April 15 draws nearer, many college students consider how they will complete their tax returns.

The IRS and Free File Alliance, a coalition of industry-leading tax software companies, have been working for eight years to provide 70 percent of Americans with completely free access to step-by-step online tax prep software.

Tom Hugo, the executive director of the Free File Alliance, says that “any taxpayer making $57,000 or less a years is able to prepare and file federal tax returns for free online at www.IRS.gov.” Participants of the service also receive their refunds within 10 days of a direct deposit.

Since 2003 the Free File Alliance has sought to assist low- and middle-income Americans in filing their federal tax returns online. According to a press release made by the Free File Alliance, more than 25 million returns have been filed through the Free File Program over the past seven years.

The Free File Alliance is not the only online tax return service.

Violet Fields, a sophomore forensic science major, also did her taxes online, but chose to file them on the Pennsylvania State website with PA Direct File.

“It was really easy to navigate the Website and made doing my taxes easier than I thought,” Fields said.

Even though online services can make it easier to file taxes, some students still prefer filing their taxes with a tax auditor.

“I would rather have personal contact with a tax auditor than stare at a computer screen,“ junior chemistry major Nicole Hanks said.

From personally meeting with a tax auditor to filing taxes online, over the upcoming weeks, college students will discover whatever method they prefer and whatever will best fit their need.