2023 Federal Income Tax Preparation

Prepare & File Your Federal Individual Income Tax Return

If you are required to file a federal individual income tax return, it is recommended that you follow these steps prior to preparing your federal tax return:

1. Collect necessary tax forms and documents.
2. Familiarize yourself with the relevant IRS individual income tax publications and instructions, including:
   • Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education
   • IRS Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
   • IRS Form 8615, Tax for Certain Children Who Have Unearned Income
   • Student’s Page - Higher Education
3. Prepare and file your tax return (federal filing deadline: April 15, 2024)

There are many resources available to you for filing your federal income tax return. In addition, you may be able to access online tax preparation software through the IRS website at no cost as well as obtain assistance from programs available to assist individuals in filing their returns or engage a personal tax advisor.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $64,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.  VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations across the country. To locate the nearest VITA site near you, use the VITA Locator Tool or call 800-906-9887.

DISCLAIMER: The University is providing a link to IRS Free File and the VITA program as a resource to graduate school and professional school students and postdoctoral fellows at Yale University. The link is provided for convenience and the programs are intended exclusively for an individual’s personal use. It is each student’s responsibility to complete and submit his or her U.S. Federal individual income tax return.

Yale University assumes no liability or responsibility of any kind arising out of or in connection with an individual’s use or misuse of the IRS Free File Program.