Former basketball players turning taxes into money for CSU

CSU fans wanting to give back to the university have a chance to do so by filing their taxes.

Jesse Carr and Adam Nigon, former starting guards for the Colorado State University men's basketball team, have become owners of a website to support their alma mater's alumni association this tax season, TaxMagic.com.

The website operates similarly to well-known online tax companies like TurboTax or TaxACT, with one major caveat — $11 of any paid filing goes directly to a cause or organization, including the CSU Alumni Association.

The easiest way for users to support CSU by filing their taxes is to go directly to www.taxmagic.com/csu, Nigon said.

A "basic" filing for households making less than $100,000 a year costs $19.95 and provides help with factoring retirement income and tax credits. The "deluxe" package runs $39.95 and covers all personal and business income with no taxable income limit and provides assistance on itemized deductions. TaxMagic.com does have a free option; however, using it won't send money to support an organization.

"We basically started doing this as a way to give back to CSU, and we're hoping fans and other graduates will join in and help out our school," Carr said, adding that TaxMagic.com became an official preferred partner of CSU on Tuesday.

The CSU Alumni Association's goal is to connected Rams across the country with events and professional networking.

Carr and Nigon said TaxMagic.com is a side project for them. Carr, who played for the Rams from 2008 to 2012 under former coach Tim Miles, is a title analyst at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. Nigon (2007-11) operates his family's liquor license at The Chateaux at Fox Meadows, an exclusive wedding venue in Broomfield.

Nigon's family does have a background in electronic tax services. His grandfather, James Fromi, started what's believed to be the first e-filing tax system that was done over telephone lines in the early 1980s. Nigon said his uncle started the website last year, but didn't have enough time to operate it, which is how he and Carr got involved.

In the past, TaxMagic.com has helped with the Wounded Warrior Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and various charities to rebuild the New Jersey shore following Hurricane Sandy, Carr said.

For insight and analysis on athletics around Northern Colorado and the Mountain West, follow sports columnist Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.