 Before you pay someone else to do your taxes or make any costly mistakes yourself, consider heading over to Bemidji State University. Students in the Advanced Tax 2 class have been helping with the returns since the beginning of the month. Excluding spring break, the free service is offered every Wednesday from 3 until 6 p.m. and on Thursday from 3.30 until 6 at Memorial Hall. If you go to a normal tax-preparing place, you're probably going to charge you $200 so you can come here. It gives the students real-life experience filing taxes because they're going to be going out and getting a job hopefully sometime soon after they graduate here, so it's a win-win situation. The students get experience filing taxes and we get to help all community members. Free online filing will also be available for those who qualify. Those using direct deposit could receive their return in as little as 8 to 10 days. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.