F...Taxes

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

If you are a freshman or sophomore and attend a qualified education institution (e.g., almost any accredited college), you can likely claim a Hope Education Credit. If you are not a freshman or sophomore, you can claim a Lifetime Learning Credit. I think you will need to fill out a Form 8863, which is available on the IRS website.

I can't really offer you much else in the way of advice (since I don't know all the ins and outs of your "situtation"), but the IRS runs the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $40,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. To locate the nearest VITA site, call 1-800-829-1040.

I actually am a preparer for VITA and it is a pretty good deal. The preparers fill out your return for free and it is usually audited on-site by people from your state's department of revenue so you know it is accurate and you are getting all of the credits/deductions you are eligible for. If you go, and I suggest you do, do not go to the VITA site on the weekends during the early morning hours unless you want to wait 1-3 hours to get your return prepared.