RMASFAA Conference
Link & Learn More
About Taxes
October 21, 2008
Topics of Discussion
 Who
are we and why are we here?
 Challenges faced by Financial Aid
Administrators
 Recommendations/Resources to
overcome challenges
Who Are We?
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Wage & Investment Division – Outreach &
Education
Customers - Wage earners and/or investment
income
Leveraged approach to taxpayer assistance
Partner with organizations sharing a
commitment to provide education, benefits
and services to underserved communities.
Who Are We?
Community based partnership model:

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Tax awareness and education
Free tax preparation assistance
Financial literacy and asset building
Awareness
Tax Preparation
and Education
Asset
Building
Why are we here?
Address challenges faced during
FAFSA verification process
 Outline potential resources to
overcome challenges

Challenges

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Do I have the training necessary?
Is my interpretation of the tax law
correct? (i.e. Am I reading this right?)
What documents should be requested?
Where do I go for information?
Recommendations
Link & Learn
Link and Learn Taxes is an e-learning
course designed specifically for
VITA/TCE volunteers. It provides
uniform training and a consistent
quality message to each volunteer.
Link & Learn Taxes and Your
Organization
 IRS e-learning course
 Training and certification
when and where you want it
Link & Learn Taxes …
•
•
•
•
•
Will deliver a uniform level of
instruction
Save on facility costs
Requires no instructor
Certifies your volunteers
online
Is available 24/7
A Training Course for Every
Volunteer
Basic
Intermediate
Common individual and
family tax concerns
Other forms of income
and deduction
Advanced
Pension and advanced
tax concerns
Military
Active members and
Reserve
International
Taxpayers living outside
the U.S.
Foreign Student
Assist foreign students
and scholars.
Puerto Rico
Bona fide residents of
PR.
Returning Student
Tax laws that take effect
this year
Getting to Link & Learn
Taxes:
Go to www.irs.gov,
type “Link & Learn” in
the keyword field and
click Search, then
click on the “Link &
Learn Taxes” link.
Or you may be able to
link directly using
www.irs.gov/app/vita
/index.jsp
Either way you'll find a
detailed overview and
links to the program.
Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA)

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Originated with Tax Reform Act of 1969
Increased emphasis on Taxpayer
Education Programs
Offers free tax help to low to moderate
income individuals
VITA volunteers prepare basic returns:

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Low income taxpayers
Persons with disabilities
Limited English speaking persons
Elderly taxpayers
Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA)
Set up a site within your school.
 Train selected volunteer
students/staff
 Process tax forms for the
community and students as well as
assist with the preparation of
FAFSA forms.

What do you have
to do?


Program is flexible!
Your school decides:
What types of returns you will process.
– 1040EZ
– 1040A
– 1040 and related schedules
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
The school
determines the
schedule

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Weekdays
Weekends
Super Saturdays
During high-traffic
periods—February
and April
Examples of Successful Free Tax & FAFSA
Form Preparation Strategies
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Milwaukee, WI- VITA clients had
FAFSA and tax returns
prepared
Uvalde, TX – Held a FAFSA
event to assist parents with
tax return and electronic
preparation of FAFSA
Oakland, CA – VITA clients had
FAFSA and tax returns
prepared
Resources
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www.irs.gov
www.irs.gov/taxlaw
IRS Tax Help-800-829-1040
IRS Forms & Publications – 800-8293676
Publication 17- Your Federal Income
Tax
Publication 4012 – Volunteer Resource
Guide
Contact information
Robin Taylor, Senior Tax Analyst
Robin.taylor@irs.gov
(404) 338-7174