VOLUNTEER TAX ALERTS

 Always review this section before starting your shift!
  + Volunteer Alerts [new alerts!]
  + TaxSlayer Pro Blog [check here when having software issues]
  + Welcome to the Community Tax Centers! (VIDEO) (EN ESPAÑOL)
  + What's New for TY19 
  + Meet Your Trainers!
  + Meet the Tax Staff of the 2020 Season
  + Draft 1040 and schedules for TY2019

TAXSLAYER RESOURCES

​  + How to write a TaxSlayer Note
  + Selecting the correct return status
  + TaxSlayer Pro Login 
​  + Login Tips here!
  + TaxSlayer Pro Practice Lab Login
  + Pro Online User Guide
​  + Pro Desktop User Guide

INTAKE RESOURCES

Can we prepare it?
  + Important Dates: What We'll Prepare When
  + Confirming Identity and SSN or ITIN
  + Income Eligibility & Exceptions
  + Residency and ID Requirements (VIDEO)
  + Income Eligibility (VIDEO)
Out of Scope
  + Your return is Out of Scope [English] [Spanish]
  + What is Within the Scope of Our Service? [in color version]
  + Scope of Service Chart from Pub 4012
  + Mortgage Credit Certificate is out of scope for VITA! [tool]​
​  + Casualty Loss Screening Tool
​  + Casualty Losses and Hurricane Harvey - [specific info here]
Drop Off
  + The Drop Off Program (VIDEO) 
​  + Military and Rental Worksheet
  + Consent forms:
  + Drop Off Supplemental Questions
  + How to do Drop Off Intake and Pick-up: Steps for Staff and Volunteers
  + Log of Drop Off paper returns picked up (for filing cabinet)
  + State Income Tax Guide
Special Situations
  + Special Situations: Policies and Instructions
  + Spouse Not Present or Deceased Taxpayer Tools [in color version]
  + Spousal consent to prepare taxes [spouse physically unable to come in]
  + 1040 vs 1040NR Screening Tool (and tips for international income)
  + Identity theft
  + Lost or missing IP PIN
  + Prior Year Return Topics [new]
Transcripts
  + Mail transcript in with paper return - one method is to fold
     transcript in thirds and staple it horizontally to the 1040 
  + Redacted Transcripts: What are our options? [check this out]
  + How to request a transcript: (English) (Spanish) 
  + Screenshot instructions to request transcript by mail in Spanish
Appointments
  + Appointment scheduling website
  + Video on how to schedule appointments for clients
  + Video for Deaf/Hard of Hearing clients about ASL appointments [wow!]
  + Appointments Flyer for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Clients
  + Tips for working with deaf clients and ASL interpreters
  + Travis County Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (flyer)
Flyers & Referrals
  + AARP flyer - and AARP scope for TY18
  + Outside Referrals for Tax Issues
​  + Low Income Taxpayer Clinics 2019 List 
  + Tax Season Flyer
  + Public website: ProsperCenters.org
  + Insure Central Texas flyer
  + College Hub flyer
​  + ESL Flyers: Eng | Spn | Arabic: Lakeline, Sierra Vista, Vintage Creek
  + FC Single residency housing: tips for getting on the waitlist
​For the intake desk
  + Census materials: Census 101: What you need to know | FAQs
  + Prosper Centers Greeter FAQ
  + Sign-in Sheets: LW/SE/North | South | RRPL/AARC  [manager list]
  + Clipboard cover sheet & documents checklist: English | Spanish
  + Intake/Interview & Quality Review Sheet [Eng] [Spn]
​  + Quick calculation tool to identify self-employment miles over 25k
  + The Intake Interview (VIDEO)

FILING STATUS & DEPENDENTS

  + Preparing Joint Returns for Married Couples (VIDEO) 
  + Filing Status Decision Tree
  + Filing Status Options for Married Taxpayers [Spanish version]
  + MFS Laminated Tool (for intake and preparers)
  + Married Filing Separately Policy & Process
  + Married Filing Separately [bilingual client handout]
  + Residency question on Dependent / Qualifying Child screen
  + Divorced and Separated Parents - when exemption released to NCP
  + Declaration of Residency - to treat nonresident spouse as resident
  + Injured spouse
  + Form 8958 Exceptions to Community Property Allocation
ITIN
  + Tax Law Change & ITINs [important!]
  + Frequently Asked Questions re: ITINs [new information added]  
  + Working with Undocumented Clients (VIDEO)
  + Clients with ITINs (VIDEO)
  + What to do when an ITIN holder gets a SSN
  + Do you need to renew your ITIN? [English] [Spanish]
​  + How to Get or Renew an ITIN  
  + ITIN Document Requirements: English | Spanish (coming soon) 
  + Required docs for dependents: under age 6 | age 6 to 17 yrs
  + ITIN brochure [Eng] [Spn]

MORE VOLUNTEER RESOURCES

  + Volunteer "It's My First Day!" Checklist
  + New Volunteer Reference (yellow packet from Basic tax prep training)
​  + What to do if you have down time
  + Guidelines for Volunteers Preparing their Returns On-Site
  + Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Guide
  + 4012 Resource Guide from the National Tax Training Committee
​
  Volunteer Position Descriptions
  + Tax Preparer    + Client Liaison    + Translator    + Training Rover
  + Out-of-Scope Tax Preparer    + Out-of-Scope Scheduler

INCOME

W-2s: 
  + W2 codes
  + Haven't received W2 or 1099? [bilingual client handout]
​  + Guidance on Form 4852 when missing W-2 or 1099-R
​  + Entering unreported tips in TaxSlayer [helpful!]
  + Misclassified Employee Screening Tool    (Spanish coming soon)
1099-Rs:​​
  + 1099-R: Basic or Advanced? And Figuring the Simplified Method
  + 1099-R Codes & Distribution Exceptions
  + Annuity/Pension Exclusion Calculator
Social Security Topics (e.g. lump-sum payments, definitions, etc.)
Additional Resources:
  + Cancellation of debt screening tool [use for all 1099-Cs]
  + Household employees
​​  + Health Savings Account (HSA)
​  + Changes in Alimony
Self-Employment​:
  + Self-Employed Income Expense Sheet
  + Deductible Transportation Expenses
  + Common Schedule C business codes [or view complete list here]
  + FAQ for Sharing Economy (Uber, Lyft, Favor, etc.) [new!]
 ​ + Clients with Self Employment (VIDEO)
Self-Employment Resources:
  + RideShare Handout | Also check out http://www.ridesharetaxhelp.com/
  + Estimated payments calculator
  + Mileage log
  + List of resources for education, support, coaching, loans, etc.
  + Electronic business resources
  + Getting ready for tax time [Eng] [Spn]
  + Rules of good recordkeeping [Eng] [Spn]

TAX & CREDITS

  + How to indicate a return is ineligible for EITC  [new]​
  + Quick calculation tool: should the taxpayer itemize?
  + Due Diligence Checklist [for 2016 only]
  + IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool
Education Benefits 
  + Education worksheet for all tax years
  + What fees are qualified expenses?
  + Which scholarships/grants can be used for living expenses?
  + Boxes 4 or 6: When is a 1098-T out of scope?
  + When is Form 8615 (Kiddie Tax) out of scope?
  + Pull 1098-T & summary: [ACC] [Texas State] [UT] [Texas Tech] [St. Ed]
  + Education Credits Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
​  + ACC webpage on 1098-Ts and tax reporting

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

Premium Tax Credits:
  + Avoid unnecessary APTC repayment
  + PTC Repayment Threshold Caps
  +Get 1095-A: Logging into the account | Calling the MP [ENG] [SPN]
​  + Understanding Premium Tax Credit Reconciliation
For tax years 2014 - 2018  
  + Exemption Code G: 138% FPL chart and hardship exemptions
​  + List of exemptions chart
  + How to enter ACA exemptions
  + Navigating the affordability exemption
  + What types of insurance are and are not considered MEC?
  + Marketplace affordability tool:  [www.healthcare.gov/tax-tool]
​  + Does Code A apply for affordability? Try this tool!
  + Definitions of income

REFUND / TAX OWED

  + Bank routing numbers
  + Frequently Asked Questions re: Refunds and Tax Due [new]
  + Make a payment: English | Spanish       Pay cash: English | Spanish
  + How to verify refund status [Spanish guide with screenshots]
Tax Time Savings Promotion
  + Savings promotion and HEB gift cards for 2020
  + Save Your Refund nationwide drawing and prizes
Help with Consents and Return Questions
  + Consents to Use and Disclose (VIDEO)
  + 2019 Summary Statistics - for use in explaining consents to clients
  + Talking points to explain consents (including in Spanish) 
  + Laminated consents and return questions tool

QUALITY REVIEW

  + The QR certification quizzes are live on the Training page!
  + QR One Pager 
  + How to Conduct a Quality Review (VIDEO)
​  + QR Volunteer Feedback Form
Closing the return
  + How to Close a Return for Tax Preparers (VIDEO)
  + How to Close a Return for Quality Reviewers (VIDEO)
  + How to Close an In-Progress Return (VIDEO)
​  + Closing a Return

EXTENSION / AMENDMENT / PAPER

  + When is it a paper return? 
​  + Where to mail the return [helpful info]
​  + E-file Versus Paper (VIDEO)
 Extensions: [coming March 2020]
  + How to file an extension: CTC policy & instructions
  + Form 4868 to apply for an extension (with mailing address)
  + Mailing options on April 15
Amendments:
  + How to do amendments in TaxSlayer [updated for 2020]
  + Amended returns - Form 1040X (FC policy)
  + TaxSlayer Guide: Working with Amended Returns
  + Combat Injured Veteran Refund Instructions
  + Modified 1040x to claim standard refund for veteran severance
  + Go to www.irs.gov/wmar for amended return status

IRS RESOURCES

  + IRS Pub 17
  + IRS Pub 4012
  + VITA Hotline for TY 2018 (volunteer tax law questions)
  + English-Spanish Glossary of Tax Terms
  + Language Identification Flashcard
  + Tax Relief in Disaster Situations
  + Understanding your IRS Notice or Letter
​​  + Guide for clients to translate the IRS website to Spanish
​  + Taxpayer Roadmap: an illustration of the US tax system [interesting!]
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