Why Study & practice?
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Build confidence and accuracy by learning how to research and apply tax law.
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Ensure quality service for clients with the support of resources and experienced teammates.
Follow in order-- trainings build on each other...
Click on Images for presentation
EVERYONE MUST PASS THE
CODE OF CONDUCT TEST
& INTAKE INTERVIEW TEST.
<---CLICK IMAGES --->
TO SEE A STUDY GUIDE
FOR EACH.
Study Guides from United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg
ALL TAX PREPARERS, QUALITY REVIEWERS NEED TO REVIEW THE FOLLOWING LESSONS. Click images for lesson.
I TRIED TO KEEP THEM SHORT AND I HAVE PROVIDED PRACTICE FOR SOME OF THEM AS WELL.
YOU DONT NEED TO MEMORIZE ANYTHING--HAVE FUN!
Who can be claimed as a dependents?
Make sure you VIEW this and use your tools!
9-7-25 Correction made to practice-thanks for catching the error Jeanie R!!!
Selecting the correct and BEST is not always obvious--NEVER ASSUME!!
A thorough Intake is KEY to an accurate return.
I cannot stress the importance of a thorough intake interview.
Get to know your taxpayers and have fun!
Types of Income &
How to enter in the software
Check In-- For Practice # 4 - Flinstone Return
You should show for 2025 Tax Year..........
AGI $ 66,464 Tax (LIne 24) $ 1,643 Results: Refund $2,783 verified 12/5/2025
Retirement Income 1099Rs
Modified scenario 12-26 to correct error in scenario
A NOTE I WANT TO ADD: When calculating the taxable portion for a joint survivor beneficiaty using the Simplified Method (and Taxslayer now works great for this) -- if the employee was receiving benefits BEFORE passing away then use the same combined age after death. If the benefits started AFTER the employee passed away use only the survivor's age. (Note from PUB 4012 Section D)
Check In-- For Practice # 5 - Jones' Return You should show for 2025 Tax Year....
AGI $30,002 TAX(LINE 24) $225 REFUND $1,725
UPDATED 12/26/2025 **CHANGED SCENARIO DUE TO ERROR
Social Security; RailRoad Retirement and Alimony
Make sure to check out the practice scenarios!
Add in Wilma's Railroad Retirement
Dana has a SSA-1099 w/Lumpsums
Watchout-- Form 5329 will need to be changed now since income changed.
For Practice # 6 - Flintstone Part 2
You should show for 2025 Tax Year..........W/O OBBB VALUES
NEW AGI $106,708 TAX(Line 24) Refund $1,351
**I need someone to compare their answers to mine please
Updated 12/29/25 changed Part 1 due to error
Practice # 6 - Jones' Part 2 *Note--Must alter amount on Form 5329 when done
since income has changed
Do the return without doing Lumpsum-see what you get for results first. Then do the lumpsum worksheets and see what happens.
You should show for 2025 Tax Year w/lumpsum worksheets
NEW AGI $ 35,525 Total Tax (Line 24) $669 Results: Refund $1,281
Someone-please compare to mine-need QR
Self-Employment
**ADVANCED TOPIC**
Check In-- For Practice # 7 - Banta- Part 1 You should show for 2025 Tax Year..........
AGI $27,525 Tax (Line 24) $1,432 Results: Refund $1,493 UPDATED 12/5/2025
Interest, Dividends AND
Capital Gains
**ADVANCED TOPIC**
For Jones-- Add COnsolidated Brokerage Statement
Watchout-- Form 5329 will need to be changed now since income changed.
Check In for Kanter
AGI $47,072 Tax(Line 24) $0.00 Results: Refund $5,052
New--added 12/5/2025 **This is the one done in class
Updated 12/29/25 changed Part 1 due to error
Check In-- For Practice # 8 - Jones' Part 3 You should show for 2025 Tax Year..........
NEW AGI $54,981 Total Tax (Line 24) $1,915 Results: REFUND $35
Someone-please compare to mine-need QR
Alimony, Gambling, Cancelled Debt, Unemployment, Poll Worker, Medicaid Waiver Payments & More!
Check In-- For Practice # 9 - Cristano Part 1 You should show for 2025 Tax Year..........
AGI $ 46,224 Total Tax (Line 24) $0.00 Results: $5,511 12/5/2025
How to complete page 2.
Educator Expenses, IRA Contributions, Student Loan Interest
Check In-- For Practice # 11 - Banta- Part 2 You should show for 2025 Tax Year..........
AGI $24,325 Total Tax (Line 24) $712 Results: Refund $0.00 UPDATED 12/5/2025
9-7-2025 Correction made to Standard Deduction example for MFJ Seniors- thanks Scot D!
And the Differences Between them. *Includes NEW TAX LAW
Differences Between them.
Differences Between them.
Video generated by Google NotebookLM
Differences Between them.
Differences Between them.
Maximizing the- Education Credit & Kiddie Tax
**Advanced Topic**
What to watch for when Allocating and the Taxpayer is the Student.
Check In-- For Practice # 9 - Cristano Part 2 You should show for 2025 Tax Year..........
AGI $ 46,224 Total Tax (Line 24) $0.00 Results: $7,590 12/5/2025
Hopefully you found that allocating doe NOT beneft Cristiano -take education w/o allocating
Marketplace
Added new slides and updated the part about changes for TY2026 12/26/2025
Check In-- For Practice # 9 - Cristano Part 3 You should show for 2025 Tax Year..........
AGI $ 46,224 Total Tax (Line 24) $0.00 Results: $7,135 12/5/225 What changed from Part 2?
Lawrance (Using Marketplace Tool's 2024 Values)
Scenario 7 - Refund $4,173 Marketplace Credit $964
Scenario 8 - Owes $1,068 MArketplace Repayment $3,034
Intake Form- Page 3 to end
TAX YEAR 2025 Study Guides & Certification
Message for volunteers: Volunteers should base their certification test/retest answers using the tax law content shown in the lessons of the Publication 4491 and Publication 4012. Volunteers should NOT base their test/retest answers on OBBBA tax law changes. The Link & Learn Taxes Certification site is programmed for pre-OBBBA tax law answers only.
Per IRS for Basic #17 Add $260 tax withhlding on Form 1099-DIV!!
TAX YEAR 2025 Scenario Results
Results from 11-23-2025 *if you get something different let me know
Per IRS for Basic #17 Add $260 tax withhlding on Form 1099-DIV!!
TAX YEAR 2025 Certification Review
Once you have completed answering all the test questions in your book(or on paper), before you submit online on the IRS certification site, input your answers in these online forms to check your work. Feedback is given--if you get a question incorrect, it will guide you to the resource you should review. Remember, this is all about learning so we can do the best for our clients.
Message for volunteers: Volunteers should base their certification test/retest answers using the tax law content shown in the lessons of the Publication 4491 and Publication 4012. Volunteers should NOT base their test/retest answers on OBBBA tax law changes. The Link & Learn Taxes Certification site is programmed for pre-OBBBA tax law answers only-the 2025 software will show OBBBA values.
Per IRS for Basic #17 Add $260 tax withhlding on Form 1099-DIV!!
