Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Veterans
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Veterans

College of Law’s Tax Clinic Secures $18k Refund for Veteran

Monday, March 4, 2019, By News Staff
Share
College of LawStudentsveterans

Last fall, Peter Denton received an email from the Department of Veterans Affairs with a memo outlining that severance payments he received from the Department of Defense were improperly taxed, and that he may be eligible for a return. This notice resulted from the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act of 2016, which seeks to ameliorate veteran severance payments paid after Jan. 17, 1991, that were inappropriately treated for tax purposes.

Denton served a full career in the Army—the first half as a combat engineer, and the second as a nuclear biochemical defense noncommissioned officer—until he left in 2012. He currently studies sustainable energy management at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) and works part-time in SUNY ESF’s police dispatch.

“When I went online to fill out the forms, there were two options,” says Denton. “The easier one would have authorized a $3,200 refund, or I could fill out additional paperwork for a full refund.” Knowing a full refund would likely mean more than $3,200, Denton sought help with the tax forms. Denton initially reached out to Clear Path for Veterans, who guided him to the College of Law’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC).

In the clinic, student attorney 3L Robert Kawecki helped Denton prepare and submit an amended return to the IRS.

“It was a fairly simple and standard tax issue,” says Kawecki. “We met with Mr. Denton to review his paperwork, go over the figures and send his return.”

Both were pleased to learn that the IRS accepted the return, and about two months later, Denton received an $18,000 refund.

“That is easily half the time it takes the IRS to process normal amended returns,” says LITC Director Robert Nassau, “which, I think speaks to the IRS’s commitment to get our vets their rightful cash ASAP.”

“It’s a really great to be able to see even a simple case from start to finish,” says Kawecki. “Being able to work one-on-one with a client through the clinic really puts a human touch on the law and it’s rewarding to directly see the impact of its success.”

Denton says he was amazed and glad he sought the extra work for a full refund. “I’m really thankful for what the clinic did for me,” he says. “Any vet that can use the tax clinic’s service should do so. They were great to work with.”

The Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act required the Department of Defense to identify and notify veterans whose severance payments may have been improperly taxed. The Department of Defense and IRS sent letters to approximately 130,000 separated military members in July of 2018. The act provides an extension of the limitation on time to file for a refund and gives eligible veterans a year from their notice to file.

A number of individuals affected by the act may not have current mailing addresses or contact information to receive notice. Veterans who did not receive contact from the Department of Defense who believe they are eligible may still file a claim. If you are or know a veteran who might be affected, you can visit the IRS’s Information Available on the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act for guidance and instruction.

  • Author

News Staff

  • Recent
  • Foundation Provides Grant to Improve Delivery Services to Area Veterans and Their Families
    Wednesday, February 24, 2021, By Brandon Dyer
  • What’s in It for Me? Faculty and Staff Resources Available at the Libraries
    Wednesday, February 24, 2021, By Cristina Hatem
  • Chancellor Discusses DPS Review, Revised COVID Guidelines and Leadership Searches in Remarks to University Senate
    Wednesday, February 24, 2021, By News Staff
  • Data Tool Expands Support of News Text Mining
    Wednesday, February 24, 2021, By Cristina Hatem
  • Boost Your Immune System With These Expert Tips (and Recipes!)
    Wednesday, February 24, 2021, By News Staff

More In Veterans

Foundation Provides Grant to Improve Delivery Services to Area Veterans and Their Families

Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), higher education’s first interdisciplinary academic institute dedicated to advocacy, research, support for military veterans and their families, was awarded a $500,000 grant by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. The grant will…

New Video Series and Website Aim to Improve Military-Connected Students Experience in Job Market

While there are many programs to help translate military skills, there are few that support veterans in learning to communicate that translation effectively. To address this issue, Veteran Career Services in the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs (OVMA) has…

‘Make ‘Garage-Gate’ Matter’

  J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and founder and executive director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, wrote an op-ed for the Washington Examiner: “Make ‘Garage-Gate’ Matter.” Haynie recently spoke with Lauren Schellin,…

Application Cycle Now Open for the Tillman Scholar Program

The Pat Tillman Foundation (PTF) unites and empowers remarkable military service members, veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self. PTF has opened the application process for the Tillman Scholar…

‘What Today’s Veterans Should Know About Entrepreneurship’

Rosalinda Maury, director of applied research and analytics at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), wrote an op-ed for Military.com titled “What Today’s Veterans Should Know About Entrepreneurship.” Maury leads research at IVMF aimed at better understanding the…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2021 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.