University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Bryan School of Business and Economics
Department of Accounting and Finance
ACC 420: Federal Tax Concepts - Syllabus for FALL 2015
T / R 12:30 - 1:45PM in Bryan 105
T / R 3:30 – 4:45pm in Bryan 111
Instructor
Office Location
*Office Hours
Office Phone
Email
Tutoring Hours
Last updated
Dr. Jenna Meints
Bryan 339
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30AM – 10AM and 1:30 - 2PM; appointment.
*Changes posted to Canvas and/or announced in class
336-334-5647
jmmeints@uncg.edu
TBD. In Bryan 335.
July 26, 2015
Prerequisite
ACC 318, Intermediate Accounting I, or equivalent, with a grade of C or better
Course Description
The goal of this course is for you to be able to recognize and to analyze issues that carry tax
implications for individual taxpayers. This course will cover technical details of various tax laws.
You will utilize tax research resources. You will prepare at least one individual federal income
tax return with tax software. You will present tax information to your class colleagues.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, you should be able to identify the tax reporting implications of the
following issues.
1. Filing status, standard deduction, personal exemptions, dependency exemptions, filing
the return, tax rates, tax rate tables/schedules, and tax rate computation.
2. Definition of gross income, year of inclusion, income sources, items specifically included
in gross income.
3. Items specifically excluded from Gross Income.
4. Classification of deductible expenses, timing of expense recognition, and disallowance
possibilities.
5. Personal casualty gains and losses, personal thefts.
6. MACRS depreciation, ACRS, amortization, and concepts relating to depreciation.
7. Transportation expenses, moving expenses, education expenses, entertainment and meal
expenses, other employee expenses, self-employed expenses, retirement plan
contributions, accountability of the reimbursement plan, and the 2% floor on certain
itemized deductions.
8. General classification of expenses, medical expenses, taxes, interest, charitable
contributions, and miscellaneous itemized deductions.
9. Tax policy considerations, individual tax credits, specific business-related tax credits,
other tax credits, and tax payments.
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 1
10. Passive, Active, and Portfolio Income.
11. Determination of gains or losses, basis considerations, concepts of nontaxable exchanges,
like-kind exchanges, involuntary conversions, personal residence sale, and other
nonrecognition provisions.
12. Rationale behind separate reporting of capital gains and losses, capital assets,
sales/exchanges, capital gains and losses tax treatment.
13. Individual AMT.
14. Current topics and issues.
In addition, you should be able to …
1. …utilize tax software to complete tax returns.
2. …utilize tax research resources.
3. …identify tax issues in the media.
4. …prepare and deliver an oral presentation.
Textbook and Required Course Materials
TEXTBOOK: Prentice Hall's Federal Taxation 2016 Comprehensive. By Thomas R. Pope,
Timothy J. Rupert, Kenneth E. Anderson. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2016.
Published Date: Apr 6, 2015. ISBN-10: 0-13-410437-4. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-410437-9.
- See announcement posted to Canvas in June 2015
SOFTWARE: H&R Block Premium (Home, not Business) 2015 Edition (for all taxpayers). Or,
2016 Cengage Learning Tax Media Pack (for students).
- See announcement posted to Canvas in June 2015
INTERACTIVE CLASSROOM TOOL: i>clicker2: ISBN: 1429280476.
- See announcement posted to Canvas in June 2015
Bring a calculator, your i>clicker2, and any relevant handouts from Canvas and/or from me with
you to each class. If you miss a class, then it is your responsibility to get materials and
information from another student. You are encouraged to bring your textbook to class.
Course Website
https://canvas.uncg.edu
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 2
Course Grading
Your final course grade will be determined as follows:
Group Work: Practice Exam 1
Exam 1
Group Work: Practice Exam 2
Exam 2
Group Work: Practice Exam 3
Exam 3
Tax Return 1
Presentation
i-Clicker responses to presentations
Class Participation
Tax Return 2
Total Possible
2%
Thurs Sep 10 – in class
18% Tues Sep 15 – in class
2%
Thurs Oct 1 – in class
18% Tues Oct 6 – in class
2%
Tues Nov 3 – in class
18% Thurs Nov 5 – in class
15% Mon, Nov 16 by 12PM
15% As assigned
5%
All presentation dates
5%
Every class
1%- 3% extra credit added to final grade; 11/16 by 12P
100% (103% with XC)
Rough grading distribution
A / A- , 93% / 90%; B+ / B / B- , 88% / 83% / 80%; C+ / C / C- , 78% / 73% / 70%; D , 65%
Participation
Your participation grade will be based on your contributions to class. Please note that
attendance alone does not equal contribution. Attendance is a critical precursor to active and
fruitful contributions. If you have three absences from class, then you automatically will receive
a grade of failure (F) and you cannot attend any class sessions or receive class materials after that
point. Likewise, you are allowed to be late to class twice. A third tardy will result in the same
treatment as three absences.
I expect you to read relevant materials before class, speak up in the majority of class
sessions, participate in group discussions and activities, bring tax-related topics to share with the
class, follow along and help with in-class exercises, and be an active contributor in class in every
sense. Excellent participation also means that your comments are thoughtful, focused, and
respectful. Points will be deducted from the base score of 100% if you miss class, are late, leave
early, disappear for long periods on break, or do not follow the contribution guidelines above for
any reason. Please turn off cell phones during class and limit your computer use to note taking or
looking up information only when required by class activities.
The development of a supportive learning environment is fostered by respectfully
listening to the ideas of others, being able to understand and appreciate a point of view which is
different from your own, clearly articulating your point of view, and linking experience to
readings and assignments. We will cover a great deal of information in each class. If you will
not be able to attend a class, then let me know as soon as possible. It is your responsibility to
obtain all information/content from your classmates.
As part of your participation grade, you should e-mail me a digital photo of yourself (or
something that has meaning for you) as an attachment to the e-mail message with a brief
introduction of yourself by the start of Class #2. At least, tell me your name, your year in school,
your past experience with taxes (academic, professional, and/or personal), your professional
interests, and something unique about you that will help me remember who you are.
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 3
If you plan to miss a class, then you may attend the respective class taught for the
other section of ACC 420. This said, you will be responsible for the materials covered
during the classes of your assigned section. You must take exams and attend
presentations at your assigned section times.
Homework and In-class Exercises
There is no graded homework required for this course. That said, during some class periods we
will do (ungraded) in-class exercises together that illustrate various parts of the federal income
tax law. These exercises will be technical, textbook-related problem sets as well as questions that
are meant to solidify your understanding of broad tax issues. The exercises will be posted to
Canvas ahead of each relevant class time for you to print out, if you so choose. I will not provide
physical handouts in class, nor will I circulate or post the solutions to the in-class exercises after
class. It is your responsibility to be present and attentive for each class and/or to contact a
classmate who can provide you with the information and materials that you missed. Your quizzes
and exams will be based in large part on the concepts and topics covered in these exercises.
Exam Policies
You must take each exam to pass this course. Makeup exams are not allowed. Exams are
multiple choice, closed book, proctored, and no notes are allowed. Each exam will list taxpayer
scenarios in which you need to identify the issues that carry tax implications. You will be given a
description of several events in the life of a Taxpayer. You must then indicate which events carry
which tax implications. For example, a tax issue that carries tax implications is the possible
taxation of some social security benefits received by certain taxpayers, or the ability of a
taxpayer to claim one’s daughter as a qualifying child and thus claim a dependency exemption.
Other multiple choice questions will test facts, concepts, ideas, and issues that
have been covered in the course textbook, class discussions, and all materials referenced
in class. Exam 2 will focus on coverage from classes only after Exam 1. This said, the
system of individual taxation builds upon itself in complexity. You will need to master
the basics covered by Exam 1 to master the content tested on Exam 2. Likewise, Exam 3
will focus on content since Exam 2. You will need to use skills learned prior to Exam 2 to
be successful on Exam 3.
All exams should be completed on your own. If your cell phone makes any noise
during an Exam, then your Exam will be collected at that time and you will leave the
testing area. You will not be allowed to continue working on the Exam. Once exams have
been distributed, you may not leave the classroom at any time before submitting your
exam. If you leave the classroom, then your testing time ends at that point regardless of
the amount of the test that you actually have finished then.
On any exam, if you do not receive credit for a question for which you have valid
supporting evidence/logic for your response, then you may e-mail me a brief description
of what you answered and why. I will read this description and determine whether you
will be awarded credit for the question. You are fully empowered to think critically and
form logical, reasonable conclusions from respectable resources provided for the class.
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 4
Tax Return Project
Toward the middle of the semester, you will be given information about two taxpayer
scenarios. You will be required to utilize the most recent edition of H&R Block Premium edition
home software for Individuals to complete the first of these tax returns. The second return can be
done for up to 3% of extra credit added directly to your final course grade. You must complete
these tax returns on your own.
I will provide a light introduction to the software in class as well as cover tips for
preparing the return. It is critical that you attend this class to get that information. If you miss the
class, then plan in advance to have a colleague take excruciatingly detailed notes for you. I will
not cover the tips again with any student after that class session.
I expect you largely to navigate this software on your own. You will be prompted by the
software program to answer a series of questions and input information from the scenarios that
you will be given. Any prompt that you encounter for which you have no information given in
the scenario means that the issue being brought up by that prompt is not relevant for your
taxpayer’s return. Learning new software feels awkward and uncomfortable at first. This is the
classic learning curve of any new technology that you encounter in life. I encourage you to push
through the initial discomfort. You may be surprised at how quickly it all starts to “make sense”
if you just keep working through the software’s natural progression of questions and prompts.
I expect that you will have questions about the tax scenario itself and completing the
respective tax return with the H&R Block software. It is up to you to plan in advance to meet
with my teaching assistant about those questions. I suggest that you write down a list of
questions that arise for you from initially reading through the problem, and then go talk with my
teaching assistant about those questions during the assistant’s open tutoring hours. I suggest that
you then attempt the entire tax return with H&R software. I cannot underemphasize the fact that
you need to attempt the entire tax return before going to the TA for help. The software prompts
you for various information at various points in the process. You will not know where to report
everything unless you work through the entire process of creating a return with the software.
I suggest that you then budget time for a second short meeting with my assistant after
completing the full return with the H&R software so that you and that assistant can clear up any
small issues that may arise for you with the software. You almost undoubtedly will have small
technical questions. These will be frustrating. I apologize for this. Every software package has
bugs and blips. I suggest that if you are stuck on one or two items for the tax return, then simply
complete the rest of the return and have the assistant help you with that one (or two) item(s). No
single item is worth you spending hours on it.
I cannot overemphasize the fact that this is not a Night Before It Is Due project. Plan
ahead. You have the information necessary to acquire the tax return software on Day One of
class. There is no reason that you cannot become familiar with it before receiving the specific
taxpayer information for this assignment. Keep in mind that if you wait until the last minute to
bring your questions to my assistant, then you most likely will be competing with many other
students for those minutes. Again, plan ahead and start the project well before it is due.
By Monday, November 16 at 12PM, you should turn in a physical copy of IRS Form
1040 pages one and two, and any relevant Schedules A-E for the required tax return. These must
be produced with the most recent edition of H&R Block Premium edition home software for
Individuals required for the course. You must also e-mail me a PDF file of all Forms, Schedules,
and Worksheets by the same time. You should put your completed tax return in the manila
envelope (provided for you in class). Seal the envelope. Sign across the seal, such that opening
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 5
the envelope would break through your signature. Turn this in to me or slide this under
my office door by the deadline. Early submissions are fine. Late returns will not be
accepted. Extra credit returns are due at the same time and in the same manner as the
regular tax returns.
Please note that I have gone out of my way to make my teaching assistant
available to only ACC 420 students throughout the semester for approximately eight
hours per week. Take advantage of this wonderful resource, especially with respect to the
tax return.
Tax Topic Presentation
You will be required to make a five minute oral presentation on a tax topic of your
choice. There is a detailed grading rubric for this presentation at the end of this syllabus, as well
as a more detailed description of relevant deadlines and actions of which one needs to be aware.
You can choose a broad or narrow topic. I highly suggest choosing a topic that has *not* been
covered at all in class. The point of this assignment is for you to present a tax issue for which
you have some passion, personal interest, and/or a strong opinion. This project is structured to be
flexible, open-ended, individualized, creative, original, and engaging.
Each of you has the option to present a topic on your own or with up to three
other classmates. If you decide to present with someone else, then each student in that
group needs to e-mail me confirmation of the partner(s) by the beginning of class start
time on Tuesday, September 1, 2015. Students who decide to present in pairs will be
responsible for eight minutes of content, trios for twelve minutes, and quadruples for
sixteen minutes. Individual presenters will be responsible for five minutes of content. The
deadlines and processes remain the same for both groups and individuals. If you decide to
present in a group, be careful of the partners you choose. It is up to you to ensure that
your group works altogether effectively, fairly, and timely.
Some questions that may direct your thinking about a topic may include… What
aspects of the tax law seem unfair to you? Who benefits and who loses from certain
provisions? How have certain tax law cases been decided in the favor of a party? How do
certain aspects of the tax administration system and its enforcement function (well or
not)? What frustrates you and/or what seems to make sense to you about certain
individual tax laws? Which human behaviors are taxed as sins and which human
behaviors are rewarded as good? Who determines these societal rights and wrongs? Who
defines what you can and cannot do with income? (How) Is a rent on profits in the best
interest of society / a party? What tax issues and events have been highlighted in the
media? What are some recent tax-related scandals?
Tax Presentation Deadlines
Summary of Dates:
(1) Two weeks prior to presentation: Topic due via e-mail with short descriptions of each Tax
Court case and each media source that you plan to use.
(2) Three nights before presentation: Complete presentation file is due via e-mail.
(3) 8AM on your presentation date: Final presentation file(s) reflecting relevant feedback and
due via e-mail.
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 6
(1) You must clear your topic with me at least two weeks before your presentation. This
is the most time consuming process of this project. I encourage early submissions. When you
identify your topic and clear it with me, you should be able to tell me what two Tax Court cases
you plan to use, including an overview of each. You must also identify what media coverage you
plan to use. In essence, you must do the research for your presentation before you can lock in a
topic. You are encouraged to check in with me during that planning process to see if your topic
will be possible before you do the extensive research leading up to your final topic selection. For
example, send me an e-mail long before the topic deadline and before spending much time
researching a topic asking me if someone else already claimed three topics of interest to you. List
at least three topics of interest. I will respond about which ones are available. First come, first
serve.)
Presentations lasting 45 seconds more or less than allowed time will automatically be
docked a certain percentage based on the length of the actual presentation. Students are allowed
to ask questions throughout your presentation, which count toward the five minute limit.
Afterward, there will be an additional two minute Q&A period that is allowed, ungraded, and
separate from the five minute limit.
You then are required to present three i-clicker questions to the class. Two questions
should test the students on something(s) that you covered in your presentation. The other
question should poll the students about their opinion or behavior related (or not) to something in
your presentation. If an individual presenter presents, handles a full two minutes of Q&A, and
then covers i-clicker questions, this student will be in front of the classroom for nine or ten
minutes. Group times will be adjusted accordingly.
(2) You must e-mail me a complete version of whatever presentation files you plan to use
in your class presentation by 11:59PM three nights before you are scheduled to present. I
encourage early submissions. This includes i-clicker questions that you plan to ask and all
appropriate citations. The file *must* be submitted complete and on time for you to receive
feedback from me. I will review your work and then send you detailed feedback, with time for
you to make any respective changes before presenting to the class.
(3) You must e-mail me the final version of any electronic files that you plan to use in
your presentation by 8AM on the day of your presentation. Files sent (or not sent) after 8AM on
your presentation date will be ignored.
Here is an example of how the two latter deadlines work. Say you are scheduled to
present on Wednesday, April 30. Your files are due to me via e-mail by 11:59PM Sunday, April
27. I will respond to you by the end of April 29. You need to be able to update your file with any
suggestions that I make in the review process before your presentation on the 30th. You must
send me the final version of whatever electronic files you plan to use on the 30th by 8AM on the
30th. I will have them ready for you in class on the 30th.
Here is another example of how the two latter deadlines work. Say you are scheduled to
present on Monday, April 28. Your files are due to me via e-mail by 11:59PM Friday, April 25. I
will respond to you by the end of April 27. You need to be able to update your file with any
suggestions that I make during the review process before your presentation on the 28th. You must
send me the final version of whatever electronic files you plan to use on the 28th by 8AM on the
28th. I will have them ready for you in class on the 28th.
Please keep in mind that no late assignments are accepted in this course. Thus, if you
miss even one deadline of the three deadlines for the tax presentation, then you miss out
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 7
on the opportunity to present altogether and you miss out on all credit for the
presentation. No exceptions. To make sure that expectations are abundantly clear to each
student, I have outlined key deadlines for each presentation date in the day-to-day
schedule located here.
Extra Resources
(1) Past Homework Assignments and Keys are posted to Canvas.
(2) Past Textbook Resources and Powerpoints are posted to Canvas.
(3) Podcasts available through iTunes:
Tax Accounting:
(a) Novogradac Tax Credit Tuesday Podcast.
Novogradac & Company LLP’s audio broadcast offers an in-depth weekly look at tax credit
topics. A new podcast is posted by 1PM Pacific Time every Tuesday.
(b) Federal Tax Update Podcast
The Ohio Society of CPAs. A new podcast is posted every Monday.
(c) FICPA: Federal Tax Updates
The Florida Institute of CPAs. Podcasts posted one to three times per month.
(d) KPMG’s This Week in State Tax (TWIST)
A tool from KPMG’s State and Local Tax practice to help keep you up to date on the latest in
state and local tax. TWIST features a series of short podcasts hosted by our Washington National
professionals who will cover state and local tax developments dating from the previous week.
If interesting, then International and General Accounting:
(a) Advice Worth Keeping
A podcast series featuring Stan Lepaek, Director of Global Research in KPMG’s Management
Consulting group, in conversation with subject matter experts, industry leaders, and eminent
researchers who are at the front line of efforts to drive evolutionary and revolutionary changes in
the way organizations are structured and operate globally.
(b) Accounting Best Practices with Steve Bragg
Discussions about accounting management, best practices, controls, throughput accounting, and
GAAP for the accountant, controller, or CFO.
(c) CPA Exam Preparation Podcast
(d) Deloitte IFRS
(e) Deloitte Global Insights
(f) International Accounting Standards Board: Developments in IFRS
(g) IFAC Accountancy Podcast – International Federation of Accountants
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 8
The following presentation rubric is only representative of how presentation grades will be determined and what is expected of each
student. One does not necessarily need to meet all conditions specified in each box to earn that level of credit. Again, this is only a
guide for what one can expect and for what one should accomplish with one’s presentation.
The key things that matter for the presentation are (1) the creativity and (2) planning that go behind the student’s topic choice, (3)
meeting all deadlines with complete files at each step, (4) quality of legal research, (5) quality and quantity of respectable authoritative
research, (6) research on what is happening in the media, (7) appropriate legal citations, and (8) an appropriately MLA or APA
formatted Works Cited.
Topic Choice
(Critical)
Legal research
(~30%)
Media
coverage
(~15%)
Excellent
Average
Minimal
Has personal interest in the topic. States
an opinion about the tax matter.
Encourages students to think about the
tax issue from multiple perspectives.
Creative and original topic. Meets all
deadlines.
The topic is directly from the textbook
and/or has been covered in class, but
expands on and does not duplicate
class coverage. Has personal interest
in the topic. Meets all deadlines.
The topic is directly from the textbook
and/or has been covered in class. The
topic coverage is primarily what has
been covered during class time
already.
Includes coverage of at least two Tax
Court cases.
Includes coverage of at least two recent
and relevant events and activities
captured by the news media. These may
be journal articles, newspaper articles,
radio interviews, market coverage,
company publications, or similar valid
and reputable media sources. These may
not cover any part of your Tax Court
cases.
Includes coverage of one Tax Court
case decision and one legal case,
decision, or activity.
Includes coverage of one recent and
relevant event or activity captured by
the news media. This may be from
journal articles, newspaper articles,
radio interviews, market coverage,
company publications, or similar valid
and reputable media sources. These
may not cover any part of your Tax
Court cases.
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 9
References two legal sources but does
not cite them appropriately nor
explain their merits. Perhaps little or
no legal research coverage.
References only historical events, Tax
Court case information, and/or no
media coverage.
Content (15%)
References,
Citations, and
Formatting
(25%)
Other factors
(15%)
Excellent
Good
Minimal
Information is complete, up to date,
valid, from respectable outlets, and
correct. At least 5 sources of information
are referenced.
Information is from respectable
outlets. One or two pieces may be out
of date with current practice and
events.
Most information is from respectable
outlets, but out of date, not relevant,
or otherwise not helpful.
Tax Court cases are properly cited, per
Chapter C1. References slide conforms to
MLA or APA formatting. Properly cites
and references all sources (min = 5).
Some issues with references and
citations.
Clarity, organization, timing, logic,
length, i-clicker questions, general
effectiveness of presentation
information, and issues addressed
during feedback.
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 10
Minimal proper references/citations.
Course Feedback
Informally, I welcome constructive criticism at any time about the course, specific assignments,
my role as your instructor, topical coverage, or about anything related to the classroom
environment and/or federal income taxation at the individual level. Your feedback would never
be held against you in my class. Likewise, it will not earn you any favorable treatment. (If you
are concerned about either possibility, then you may submit anonymous feedback to me. To do
so, write down (or type up) your constructive comments, put them in an envelope, and give that
envelope to the Department secretary in Bryan 383 to put in my mailbox. Your name is not
needed on those comments.) Formally, I will ask you for anonymous feedback at least once, near
mid-semester.
Students in Distress / Eustress
The most meaningful part of my job is having the opportunity to meet and to get to know
each student. Arguably, I learn more from each student who feels comfortable enough with me to
share parts of one’s life – class related or not – than a student learns in my classroom. I have
been teaching at UNCG since fall 2012. I have met many, many amazing people over the
semesters. I continue to be a big fan of each. I adore being able to cheer on (or listen to) students
long after our class time together. This connection, of course, is absolutely not necessary. Nor
will there be any special treatment for such.
Other resources that I encourage each of you to seek out if needed: student services
support, counseling, medical care, any adult you trust (including any faculty and/or staff), and
my teaching assistant. I will not know of your interactions with any of these resources, unless
you specifically tell me.
What is at the same time good and bad is that my career continues to unfold in several
directions and in various places in and away from Greensboro. This means that my time on
campus at UNCG is extremely limited. Please keep in mind that I am available by e-mail. If you
would like to talk telephonically, then you can send me an e-mail with your phone number and I
will call you. I ask that if you are experiencing a personal, non-class related emergency, and you
decide to relay this to me via e-mail, then indicate such by including “EMERGENCY” in your email subject line. I give first priority to these messages. Please be very careful with listing
messages as emergencies. Almost always, nothing related to the course constitutes an
emergency.
Academic Integrity
You and I are expected to abide by the UNCG Academic Integrity Policy as well as by
the UNCG Codes of Conduct. I respect and expect you to uphold the UNCG Honor Code that
includes, among other things, that you complete your own work on your own to the best of your
ability. Cheating in my class results in automatic failure of the course. I will report the incident
to the Honor Court for full due processing. This ends up being a lengthy and stressful process for
both the student and the instructor. Please visit the following link to remind yourself of the full
Code. http://bae.uncg.edu/assets/faculty_student_guidelines.pdf
Policy on Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities that affect their participation in the course must notify me if they wish
to have accommodations in instructional or examination format. I will work with the Office of
Disabilities and the student to make appropriate accommodations.
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 11
Late Work
Late work is not accepted.
Cell Phone Policy
It is preferred that cell phones be turned off during class times. This said, I understand
that each student is juggling multiple responsibilities. If you need to keep your cell phone on
during class, then please put it in vibrate or silent mode. If you decide to text in class, then you
will be dismissed for the rest of the class period. I will adjust your participation grade
accordingly.
E-mail Policy
Please allow at least 24 hours for me to respond to any e-mail(s) that you send to me. I try
my best to respond as soon as possible, but this does not always happen as quickly as I wish it
could. I apologize in advance for any delayed responses. Please note that I rarely have the chance
to read or respond to e-mails over the weekend.
Because of the volume of e-mails that I receive throughout the semester, I highly
suggest that you send me just one message with multiple questions/issues at a time, if
possible, rather than a sending me a series of e-mails in a short period of time each with
one issue. For example, if we cover chapter three in class, then first bring your questions
to that class session and ask them while we are all in class together. Most likely, someone
else will have the same question. Questions will (and should) benefit the class.
Class Time and Environment
We have very limited time together for class sessions. I will respect you and your time. In
return, I expect you to do the same for me and for your fellow classmates. Please do not have
side conversations in class. Please do not pack up early. If you are distracting others in class,
then I will tell you to leave the classroom immediately and your participation grade will be
adjusted accordingly. If you do not want to come to class, then simply do not come. As in all of
life, spend your time on what matters to you. The one thing that I took away from my own
college advisor was this: “Time is the one thing that you can never get back.”
Student Study Program through the Student Success Center
As a student in this course, you have the opportunity to participate in the Student Study
Program (SSP), which is one of the four programs housed in the Student Success Center located
in the McIver Building. SSP is designed to offer additional academic support for students
enrolled in historically challenging classes that have high drop, failure, and/or withdrawal rates.
The purpose of SSP is to offer students the opportunity to form collaborative
study groups of up to 4 of their peers. Students will be matched by the program
coordinator with other students in the same course and section. To sign up or to learn
more about SSP, go to http://success.uncg.edu/ssp/. If you have further questions, you
may also contact the Coordinator of the Student Study Program at ssp@uncg.edu.
Canvas and Technology
For those who are not familiar with or have issues with Canvas, please empower yourself
with resources provided by UNCG. For technology concerns and issues, contact 6-TECH: (336)
256-TECH (8324) or 6tech@uncg.edu. Plan ahead; anticipate last minute technology glitches.
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 12
SCHEDULE OF CLASS TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS
(subject to change at instructor’s discretion)
DATE
TOPIC
CHAPTER
ASSIGNMENT DUE
Tues Aug 18
Introduction to Class
NA
Thurs Aug 20
Essentials and History
Tues Aug 25
Tax Research
C-1
READ C-1
Thurs Aug 27
Income Formula
I-2
READ CH I-2
READ Syllabus
I-1, I-11
Intro DUE
READ I-1 and 11-1 - 11-10; 11-25, 11-26, 11-27
*Tues Sep 1
Group Work - Supreme Court Cases
READ (Canvas):
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission - Slip Opinion January 2010
Obergefell et al. v. Hodges, Director, Ohio Department of Health, et al. – S.Op. June 2015
Thurs Sep 3
Gross Income Inclusions
3
READ CH I-3
Tues Sep 8
Gross Income Exclusions
4
READ CH I-4
*Thurs Sep 10
Group Work: Practice Exam 1
*Tues Sep 15
Exam 1: Chapters I-2, I-3, I-4 and SC cases.
Bring basic calculator (no graphing function; no phones), Red Scantron, and pencil.
Thurs Sep 17
Exam 1 Review. H&R Block software and tax return tips.
Tues Sep 22
Deductions and Losses
Losses and Bad Debts
6
8
READ CH I-6
READ CH I-8
Thurs Sep 24
Itemized Deductions
7
READ CH I-7
Tues Sep 29
Itemized Deductions
7
READ (Canvas):
NC Tax Reform; NC and the Federal Marketplace Exchange; NC and Medicaid expansion
*Thurs Oct 1
Group Work: Practice Exam 2.
*Tues Oct 6
Exam 2: Chapters I-6, I-7, I-8, NC materials.
Thurs Oct 8
Exam 2 Review
Tax credits
14
READ CH I-14
*Tues Oct 13 and *Thurs Oct 15 – Fall break; NO CLASS
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 13
DATE
TOPIC
CHAPTER
ASSIGNMENT DUE
Tues Oct 20
Employee Expenses
9
READ CH I-9
Thurs Oct 22
Depreciation
10
READ CH I-10
Tues Oct 27
Depreciation
10
Capital Gains
5
READ CH I-5 as follows:
First 5 pages, stop before Basis Considerations; 5-7 and top of 5-8 Gifts; 5-13 and top of 5-14;
5-16 tax treatment to 5-20.
Thurs Oct 29
Capital Gains
AMT
5
14
*Tues Nov 3
Group Work: Practice Exam 3.
*Thurs Nov 5
Exam 3: Chapters I-5, I-9, I-10, I-14.
Tues Nov 10
Exam 3 Review
Presentations – Date A
(Topic due by Oct 27; Final File due by Saturday, Nov 7)
Thurs Nov 12
Presentations – Date B
(Topic due by Oct 29; Final File due by Monday, Nov 9)
Mon Nov 16
Tax Returns Due by 12PM
Tues Nov 17
Presentations – Date C
(Topic due by Nov 3; Final File due by Saturday, Nov 14)
Thurs Nov 19
Presentations – Date D
(Topic due by Nov 5; Final File due by Monday, Nov 16)
Tues Nov 24
Presentations – Date E
(Topic due by Nov 10; Final File due by Saturday, Nov 21)
If needed, then presentations during respective final exam periods:
12:30PM Section – Thursday, December 3 12P - 3P in Bryan 105
3:30PM Section - Thursday, December 3
3:30P – 6:30P in Bryan 111
* = Change in Office Hours
Fall 2015 ACC 420 Syllabus for Meints, page 14