Hey there you procrastinating pupils! Tax season is pretty much the worst thing ever when you’re juggling classes, activities, and just trying to survive college life. But ignoring tax deadlines will only compound the stress worse than showing up to an 8 a.m. final without any pencils. 

“This is my first year ever filing taxes and I’m so lost,” confessed Noah C. “Between trying to decode all those crazy forms and documents, not to mention actually doing the return itself, I’ve just been avoiding it completely. As a first timer, this whole tax thing is straight-up intimidating!”

Well, listen up, my studious friends! The IRS loves handing out penalties and interest charges if you’re late, and trust me, those fees add up quicker than your overdraft charges from too many late night Taco Bell runs. We don’t want that crimping your budgets even more!

“A lot of students mistakenly think that if they get an extension to file later, they can just put off paying too,” said Susan Livingston, a Tax Analyst with a whopping 29 years of experience at H&R Block. “But nope, you still need to pony up and pay estimated taxes by the original deadline to avoid those nasty interest charges and late penalties from the IRS.”

So do yourselves a favor and pull out those cute planner notebooks to jot down these key tax dates. April 15, 2024: This is THE due date to submit your individual 2023 tax returns. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Unless…you happen to live in Massachusetts or Maine in which case those lucky ducks get until April 17 (thanks, Patriots’ Day!)

If there’s legitimately no way you can file by April 15, you can request an automatic six-month extension using Form 4868. This buys you until October 15 to file, but you still need to estimate your tax liability and pay anything owed by April 15. Otherwise, prepare for those penalties.

For all you enterprising students earning self-employment income, investments, side hustles, etc., know that the IRS actually expects you to pay estimated taxes quarterly too. Mark these payment due dates: June 17, Sept. 16, and Jan. 15, 2025. Yeah, it’s annoying but think of it as practice for being a real adult.

Okay, say you requested an extension back in April to buy more time. The ABSOLUTE final, no-more-reprieves, drop-dead deadline to file your 2023 return is Oct. 15. Do not be that student with an ‘Incomplete’!

Now, a few tips to (hopefully) make tax filing less torturous than all-night cram sessions:

If your total income was under $13,850 (the standard deduction), the IRS has free file resources. No need to dip into your hardly-there savings! Gather every income document first – those W-2s, 1099s from gigs, etc. Don’t file until you have it all to avoid amending returns later.

For all of those paying tuition out-of-pocket, look into credits like the American Opportunity Tax Credit for a nice refund boost. Gotta pinch those pennies! Business majors or self-employed students, consider hiring an affordable tax pro to maximize your legit deductions. They know way more than your Uncle Larry.

If you’ll be studying abroad or backpacking when taxes are due, request an extension ASAP to avoid the late filing penalties. The IRS doesn’t care about wanderlust! Additionally, try adulting for once – contribute to a Roth IRA with a slice of your hard-earned income. Your future retired self will be thrilled you planned ahead!

Look, if you’re frantically googling at the last minute, just call the IRS helpline or visit one of their local offices for assistance. They’ve been staffing up to actually be helpful! 

And any longtime paper filers out there, many post offices have extended hours on April 15 to accept your returns, but realistically, you’ll probably just e-file from your laptops between binge sessions.

So there you go, my procrastinating pals – the key tax dates to stay on Uncle Sam’s good side and avoid any extra fees. Jot ’em down, hit the deadlines, and treat yourself to a Frappuccino or something for being responsible adults! Just don’t blow that refund before you get it! Maybe Mom and Dad will be so impressed they’ll cover your next Venmo request.