Filing taxes at Lipscomb: self-taught, dad-helped or avoided altogether?

NASHVILLE – As tax season approaches each year, a common question arises among college students: Who actually handles their taxes? For many students at Lipscomb, the answer points less to independence and more to reliance on parents or self-taught efforts. Interviews with several students reveal a mix of experiences, but a clear pattern emerges: High school often falls short in preparing young adults for one of life’s essential financial responsibilities.

The question many students and parents are asking is: Did high school do enough to equip us for filing taxes?

Limited Preparation from High School

High school curricula across the country have increasingly incorporated personal finance topics, with more states mandating financial literacy courses in recent years. Yet for many students, taxes remain a blind spot.

At Lipscomb, students echo this sentiment. For Cal Holland, a junior, the gap is stark.

“I do not do my taxes,” Holland said. “If I were told to do my taxes, I would have no idea where to start, and I would have to teach myself how to do them. High school did absolutely nothing in preparing me for my taxes.”

Holland’s experience highlights a broader trend: Many young adults enter college without hands-on knowledge of tax forms, deductions or even basic filing processes. While some high schools include basic life skills units, the depth often stops short of practical tax preparation.

Mixed Levels of Independence

Not all students at Lipscomb avoid the process entirely. Some take ownership, though often with significant help.

Evan Lapp, another junior, files annually but credits external guidance for making it possible.

“I do my taxes every year, but I would not know where to start without my Dad sending me the forms.”

Lapp’s reliance on his father for the foundational documents underscores how family involvement bridges the preparation gap. Nationally, many college students depend on parents during their undergraduate years, with surveys indicating that a majority feel unprepared to handle taxes independently after graduation.

Others benefit from intentional family teaching. Carter Gilbert notes that his high school attempted to cover the basics, but real understanding came from home.

“My teachers tried to teach us basic life skills in high school, and filing our taxes was a part of that,” Gilbert said. “Honestly, my dad does it for me every year, but he makes sure I understand the process every year.”

Gilbert’s situation shows a more proactive approach, where parental explanation reinforces classroom lessons. Still, the primary responsibility remains with his dad, reflecting a common dynamic among college-aged filers.

Broader Context and Reliance on Others

Among younger filers, including college students, the numbers skew even more toward assistance, especially when income is from part-time jobs, scholarships or parental support. Electronic filing has made the process more accessible, but confusion persists; recent polls show gaps in basic tax knowledge, even among those with some college experience.

Lipscomb offers courses in financial literacy through its Integrated Learning curriculum, covering budgeting and money management, but students interviewed suggest these may not always translate directly to tax filing confidence. Without the required high school mandates in every state, though increasing, many arrive at college needing to catch up quickly.

Looking Ahead

As more states push for mandatory personal finance education, the hope is that future generations will enter adulthood better equipped. For now, Lipscomb juniors like Holland, Lapp and Gilbert represent a transitional group: Some file independently with heavy support, others avoid it altogether, and most acknowledge that high school provided limited preparation.

The takeaway? Filing taxes remains a learned skill for many college students, one often mastered through family guidance or trial-and-error rather than formal schooling. Until curricula fully bridge that gap, parents and self-study will continue filling the void.