QR: Quality Reviewer correct answers Mandated by the IRS, every return that is prepared at
a VITA site, MUST be
double-checked by a designated reviewer
paper return correct answers a tax return that must be physically mailed to the respective IRS
office
e-file/e-file return correct answers a tax return that is electronically transmitted to the IRS
through the software
greeter correct answers A person who ensures that each client is "in-scope," and assigns
clients to volunteers (located at the intake station)
ITIN correct answers At times, individuals will not have a social security number; however,
that does not
exempt them from paying taxes. Therefore, they need to apply for an ITIN (Individual tax
identification number)
how taxes work in the US correct answers -fill out W-4 to tell employer how much to
withhold from each paycheck
-"pay as you go" tax system
-Jan-April
-receive a refund for an overpayment or pay for an underpayment
Tax Calculation correct answers -all income is taxable unless excluded by federal law
-deductions and credits help lower amount of taxable income and taxes due
-some deductions and credits are geared towards students and higher education
Types of Taxes correct answers FICA, income, self-employment, state income, state
disability
Who requires a tax return correct answers -They owe taxes (like FICA)
-Have self-employment income greater than $400 (or will owe FICA taxes)
-Their gross income exceeds the filing requirement threshold
who should file a tax return correct answers -They have withholdings/estimated payments
that can be refunded
-Qualify for refundable credits
-File a state return
Filing Status correct answers -All filing statuses are based on the last day of the tax year
-Important because it changes how tax calculations are made, deduction amounts, and how
each person on the return is liable for the tax payments
Married Filing Jointly (MFJ) correct answers -most beneficial status
-Married and lived together, OR
-Married and lived apart, but not legally separated/divorced, OR
-spouse died but did not remarry in the same year
,Qualifying Widow(er) correct answers -second most beneficial
-Does not remarry after the death of a spouse, AND
-Has a dependent child who qualifies, AND
-spouse died in the prior 2 years
Head of Household (HOH) correct answers -Are unmarried or "considered unmarried" on the
last day of the tax year, AND
-Paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the required period of time,
AND
-Had a qualifying person living in their home for more than half the year (except for
temporary absences, such as school)
qualifying person correct answers -single (whether or not the child can be claimed as a
dependent), OR
-A married child who can be claimed as a dependent, OR
-A dependent parent, OR
-A qualifying relative who lived with the taxpayer more than half the year, and is one
of the relatives listed on the chart, and can be claimed as a dependent by the
taxpayer
single correct answers unmarried
married filing separately correct answers -Legally married, but chooses to file separately or
cannot agree to file jointly
-California is a communal property state
-VITA does not do this
dependency general rules correct answers -dependent taxpayer test
-joint return test
-citizen or resident test
Dependent Taxpayer Test correct answers -A taxpayer who can be claimed as someone else's
dependent cannot claim a
dependent
-A dependent cannot be claimed by more than one person
Joint Return Test correct answers You generally cannot claim a married person as a
dependent if he or she files a joint
return
citizen or resident test correct answers Dependents must generally be U.S. citizen, U.S.
resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico
Qualifying Child: SARA correct answers support, age, relationship, abode
Qualifying Child: support correct answers Child can't have provided more than half of their
own support for the year
, Qualifying Child: age correct answers -Under the age of 19 by the end of the tax year (24 if a
full time student;
full student = 5 months of "full time" status) OR
-Permanently and totally disabled, regardless of age
Qualifying Child: relationship correct answers Child, stepchild, sibling, step-sibling or
descendant
Qualifying Child: abode correct answers Must have lived with you for more than half the
year, except temporary absences
Qualifying relative: SIR correct answers -cannot be a qualifying child
-when child's parent is not required to file an income tax return
-support, income, relationship/abode
Dependency Test correct answers general rules, qualifying child, or qualifying relative
Qualifying Relative: Support correct answers The taxpayer generally must provide more than
half of a person's total support during the calendar year
Qualifying Relative: Income correct answers Gross income for the year must be less than
$4,200
Qualifying Relative: Relationship/Abode correct answers -Dependent must have lived with
the taxpayer's household all year or
-Be related to the taxpayer
taxable income correct answers earned and unearned income
earned income correct answers -Wages & Salary (W-2)
-Nonemployee Compensation (1099-MISC)
-Tip Income
unearned income correct answers -Scholarship Income (1098-T)
-Interests and Dividends (1099-INT/1099-DIV)
nontaxable income correct answers -Gifts
-Inheritance
-Certain investments
-workers' compensation
-may be reported but not taxed
Wages and Salaries correct answers -W-2 form
-most common
-Reports total income, withholdings, and other taxes from employer
Tip Income correct answers -W-2 box 8
-all tip is taxable and generally reported on W-2