By Abby Rathbun
Ben Franklin said in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.
I’ll take death.
I didn’t start my taxes until I saw the calendar had changed from March to April and I realized I had only two weeks to complete them.
I use one of the few free tax services online, so I am pretty much alone when doing my taxes and since paying for college is a burden I bear alone, I should also be able to complete my taxes. I didn’t realize a Ph.D. would have been incredibly helpful.
I filled in the blanks for my W-2 forms. Easy. I watched my tax refund climb with each job.
I then attempted to fill in the blanks for a 1099-MISC form that I received for working on a campaign last fall.
Of course, that required that I upgrade to the $30 tax service. I watched my tax refund dwindle by 30 bucks.
If that had been my only problem, I would have been a very happy girl. However, I am on a full-ride scholarship here at U of L. Who knew that would cost me? Because I receive more than just tuition, it is difficult to claim a deduction. What makes it even harder is, although the scholarship is in my name, I cannot claim any deductions.
My parents still claim me on their taxes so I can be on their health insurance plan. They can claim my scholarship as a deduction, but not me. Awesome.
I carry the burden of paying for college myself and usually with no complaints. I don’t expect to be handed anything and I am here because I was given a scholarship.
However, the government shouldn’t punish students who work hard to earn scholarships by forcing them to pay taxes on them.
I am cashing in savings bonds I had intended to use for studying abroad, to pay the taxes I owe.
Here, Uncle Sam and Gov. Beshear, a combined $1500 for both federal and state taxes on my scholarship.
I am sorry I live in a country that punishes students for receiving scholarships so they can afford to go to college and make this country better.
