This will be the beginning of the tax updates we will be providing for all our wonderful tax counselors in Southeast Ohio! There is a lot of information in this post, so be sure to read all the information carefully! The next update post will be shorter, I promise!!
• First, the tax refresher course is available for tax counselors.
Click here!
• Please check out the 2011
Tax Clinic Kit. If you think that you may have a high volume of tax clients this year consider hosting a Tax Clinic to reach more clients. This kit has everything you need to host an effective tax clinic.
• ALSO consider inviting the
Ohio Benefit Bank Mobile Express Van to your site!
o The van comes with TWO expert tax counselors, up to 8 laptops, 2 printers, AND internet access.
o Help us help you! Invite the Benefit Bank van to your site to assist in tax filing. Fill out this
request form or call 614-221-4336 ext 241 to invite the van to your site.
o Many people are losing their hard-earned money to fees and anticipation loans. Let the Mobile Express help people in your community file their taxes for FREE!
• Finally, the federal government is asking certain tax filers to wait to file their taxes until mid to late February. Cases where you need to wait to file your federal tax return are the following:
1. Taxpayers itemizing their deductions on a Schedule A.
2. Taxpayers claiming the Higher Education Tuition and Fees Deduction (This deduction for parents and students covers up to $4,000 of tuition and fees paid to a post-secondary institution).
3. Taxpayers Claiming the Educator Expense Deduction (This deduction is for kindergarten through grade 12 educators with out-of-pocket classroom expenses of up to $250).
100's Rejected due to AGI/PIN Mismatch
Clients now have three ways to sign their income tax return:
1. Prior Year (PY) AGI
2. Prior Year (PY) PIN
3. Electronic Filing (EF) PIN provided by the IRS (Just added to TBB)
Only one of these 3 options must match. Until this week, TBB did not have an EF PIN option and many clients were placing their EF PIN in the PY PIN option causing their tax return to be rejected by the IRS.
Our new EF PIN option corrects this problem. Please note however, if your clients remember the PIN they used last year or their prior year AGI, there's no need for them to request a new EF PIN from the IRS.
Any questions about PINS and or rejected tax returns use the Help Desk toll free phone number exclusively for counselors:
1-855-TBB-HELP.
Tax Clinic Guide
Our Tax Clinic Guide featuring 4 easy steps to hosting is available in English and Spanish. Tax clinics bring thousands of dollars into your neighborhood economy and make a real difference in people's lives.
Get Your Tax Clinic Guide Here.
Frequently Used Tax Terms
TBB Tax Center's new section -
Tax Terms is a companion to the Counselor Training Guides. Frequently used tax terms and their explanations such as PINS, Making Work Pay Credit, Exemptions, RALS, Filing Status and others are listed for your convenience.
Review Tax Terms Here.
**We are pleased to announce the new 2011-2012 FAFSA form is available for e-file effective
Tuesday, February 15th.
Visit our
FAFSA information online to learn more about FAFSA including how to check the status of FAFSA forms once submitted.
