training using new nttc materials - colorado tax-aide

Carl Kantner

Training Using New NTTC Materials

CO1 IW 2018 2

Two Objectives ─ Provide Instructors

with tools to facilitate classroom instruction

─ Provide volunteers with exercises for proficiency and certification

2018 Workbook Revised

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Introduction/Table of Contents

Training Exercises (New)

Practice Exercises

Quizzes

Contents

Training Exercises Practice Exercises

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For Instructor use in a classroom setting

Contain all the core topics usually encountered on the Advanced Exam

Separate Instructor Guide

PowerPoint Presentations

Provided for volunteers to reinforce/refresh knowledge and skill

For volunteers to demonstrate proficiency and meet certification requirements

Two Types of Exercises

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Core Exercise Series (four exercises)

─ Designed for new volunteers

─ Core topics taught using four return scenarios

─ Instructor Guide provides information and Ideas

─ PowerPoint Presentations

Core Inclusive Exercise

─ For new or returning volunteers

─ Single Exercise containing all core topics

─ Instructors teach topics in old 1040 line-by-line approach

─ Instructor Guide provides additional information

Training Exercises

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Each lesson is designed around an exercise return

Separate Instructor Guide provides information and ideas

─ Single Working Taxpayer

─ Single Working Parent

─ Young Married Couple w/Self-Employment Lesson

─ Senior Married Couple w/Capital Gain/Loss Lesson

─ ACA Supplement

Exercises require class to conduct an interview

Example discussion points are provided for each tax topic

Core Exercise Series

Tom Andrews

Single Working Taxpayer

Tom Andrews – Single Working Taxpayer Lesson

8

This lesson will focus on a simple tax return for a typical single employed taxpayer

The following tax topics will be discussed:

─ Single Filing Status

─ Income: Wages, Interest, and Unemployment

─ Adjustments: IRA Deduction and Student Loan Interest

─ Standard Deduction

─ Credits: Retirement Savings Credit

Single Working Taxpayer


9

Two criteria: ─ Marital status on last day of tax year

• Federal definition – “married” – Legal marriage under laws of any state or country – Does not include civil unions or registered domestic

partners

─ Persons living in the home (may or may not be dependents) or supported by taxpayer

Filing Status


10

Many tax items affected by filing status ─ Necessity to file a return (Pub 4012 Page A-1 Chart A)

─ Standard deduction (Pub 4012 Page F-1 Exhibit 1)

─ Tax rate bracket

─ Eligibility for certain credits (e.g., Pub 4012 Page I-3 Step 3, and others)

Filing Status Importance


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Single

Married filing jointly (MFJ)

Married filing separately (MFS)

Head of household (HoH)

Qualified widow(er) (QW)

Five Choices for Filing Status

Pub 4012 Tab B


12

Not married as of December 31

Married, but legally separated

There may be a more advantageous filing status if the taxpayer has dependents or other qualifying person (covered in later lesson)

Filing Status: Single


13

Taxable vs Non-Taxable ─ Examples?

─ Turn to TAB D-1

Earned vs Not Earned ─ Examples?

─ Turn to TAB I-1

Income


14

Earned or Not Earned?

Wages are reported on form W-2

See Intake/Interview Form

Income: Wages

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Each exercise requires the class to conduct an interview

─ Volunteers review the I&I Sheet and taxpayer documents

─ Volunteers then interview the taxpayer (Instructor)*

─ Interview topics and responses are provided in the Workbook Instructor Guide

─ Volunteers update and annotate the I&I Sheet in response to the interview

* Option: two Instructors could conduct the interview in a role play format

Training Exercise Interview

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Example from the Workbook Instructor Guide

─ Tom Andrews (Single Working Taxpayer) marked Yes for receiving unemployment benefits

• There is no 1099-G

• Tom replies he received benefits for two months while laid off but did not receive the form

• Instructor prompts discussion: “What are some options?”

• Instructor states that Tom is able to call the Unemployment Office and provides the amount received, taxes withheld and address and EIN of the agency

─ Volunteers record this information on the I&I sheet

Interview Example

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After volunteers make a TaxSlayer entry Instructors have an opportunity to reinforce learning points

The guide provides example discussion points for each tax topic

Training Exercise Discussion Points

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Tom Andrews (Single Working Taxpayer) makes a contribution to his IRA

After volunteers enter this in TaxSlayer Instructors could prompt discussion

─ What limits this deduction?

─ What effect can this have on the return?

─ Was a retirement savings credit generated? What limits the retirement savings credit? What form will be printed for the taxpayer?

Discussion Point Example

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Focused (New) – Five exercises that focus on specific tax topics

Core* – Exercises that contain core topics that all volunteers must be familiar with

Comprehensive* – Exercises that contain advanced topics which most experienced volunteers should be comfortable handling

Specialty* – Two exercises that contain advanced topics (HSA and Education Benefits with unrestricted scholarships)

*Refreshed versions of last year’s workbook exercises

Practice Exercises

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Each exercise is focused on a specific core topic

Instructor Guide provides additional information and ideas

─ Basic Income

─ Self-employment Income

─ Retirement Income

─ Investment Income

─ Itemized Deductions and Education Benefits

Exercises can be used with the Core Training Series to reinforce the lesson topics

Focused Exercises

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A single exercise containing all the core topics

Separate lessons in old Form 1040 line-by-line sequence

AGI and Refund Monitors included to stay on track

Requires class to conduct an interview

Best use would be for returning Counselors in a classroom setting to refresh their knowledge and software skills

Core Inclusive Exercise

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Same as last year:

─ ACA Quizzes

─ Filing Status/Dependent Quizzes

─ Tax Topic Quizzes

Quizzes

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Separate document to be distributed electronically through TRSs

Information and ideas for using the Training Exercises in the classroom

Instructor Guide

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Instructor Guide for Tax-Aide NTTC Workbook

I will send an electronic copy to any instructor that requests one

Instructor Guide

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Introduction with Table of Contents

Individual Guides for each Training Exercise

Notes for each Practice Exercise highlighting key learning points

Detailed notes for the two Specialty Exercises

Appendix - Separate Interview Notes for the Training Exercises for use outside of the classroom

Appendix - Example training schedules (New and Returning Volunteers)

Instructor Guide Contents

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A PowerPoint Presentation has been prepared for each of the four exercises in the Core Training Exercise Series

Slides drawn and adapted from the various NTTC Training Slide Sets

Slides prompt volunteers to open and review the Volunteer Resource Guide (Pub 4012) wherever possible

Slides for TaxSlayer data entry prompt volunteers to refer to Volunteer Resource Guide

Instructors should delete, add, or modify slide to meet district training needs

Presentations are available in the Portal Library

PowerPoint Presentations

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New Volunteer Orientation

Policy and Procedures Review

Client Facilitator Training

NTTC Training Slides (Release 1) 44 Topics

Additional Resources from NTTC Available in the Portal Library

New Volunteer Counselor Orientation TY2018 {Colorado, Your District} {Date}

For All Volunteers Tax Year 2018

Tax-Aide Policies and Procedures Review

Tax Year 2018

This training supplements the Tax-Aide Policies and Procedures training which is required for all AARP

Foundation Tax-Aide Volunteers

The Client Facilitator

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Questions?

training using new nttc materials - colorado tax-aide

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