Basic Income Tax Course

Rollout Guide

Tax School 2012

Revised July 2012

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Table of Contents

Basic Income Tax Course Overview ..................................... 5

Fees for the Basic Income Tax Course ............................................... 6
Welcome Packets ............................................................................... 8
Basic Income Tax Course Content ..................................................... 8
Session Content ............................................................................... 10
Facilitators Guide ............................................................................. 11
Presentation of Exercises ................................................................. 11
Certificates of Completion ................................................................. 12

Using the Employee Education eService ............................ 12

The Instructors Role ............................................................ 13
Responsibilities ................................................................................. 13
Materials and Equipment .................................................................. 14
Materials and Equipment Checklist ................................................................... 14

Preparing Students for the Registered Tax Return Preparer

(RTRP) Test ............................................................................ 15
ExamMatrixTM RTRP Exam Review Course ...................................... 15
Mock Test ......................................................................................... 16
Domain Games ................................................................................. 16
Remediation Index ............................................................................ 16
Becoming Familiar with the RTRP Online Resources Module........... 16
Test Taking Strategies Job Aid ......................................................... 17
Materials for Conducting an RTRP Study Group............................... 17
What to Expect on Test Day Video ................................................... 17

Instructing a Traditional Classroom Course ...................... 18

Timeframe and Format ..................................................................... 19
13-week Course Plan for Basic Income Tax Course 1, 2, and 3 and the General
State Information Module .................................................................................. 19
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Course Reviews ................................................................................................ 20

Schedule .......................................................................................... 21
Sample Schedule for 13-Week Basic Income Tax 1, 2, and 3 and the General
State Information Module .................................................................................. 21

Preparation ....................................................................................... 22
Sample Course Format for Traditional Classroom ............................................ 22
Preparation Checklist for the Traditional Classroom Basic Income Tax Course23

Room Accommodations and Layout Recommendations ................... 24

Running the Session......................................................................... 24

Instructing a Facilitated Classroom Course ....................... 26

Timeframe, Format, and Schedule.................................................... 26
Preparation ....................................................................................... 26
Preparation Checklist for the Facilitated Classroom Basic Income Tax Course
.......................................................................................................................... 27

Setting Up Student Accounts ............................................................ 28

Using the Basic Income Tax Course ................................................. 28

Facilitating an Online Course .............................................. 28

Timeframe and Format ..................................................................... 30
Sample Schedule for Online Basic Income Tax 1, 2, and 3 .............................. 30

Communicating with Students .......................................................... 32

Preparation ....................................................................................... 32
Preparation Checklist for the Online Basic Income Tax Course ........................ 33

Username & Password Management ............................................... 33

Scores & Tracking Student Progress ................................................ 34
State Specific Returns ...................................................................... 34

Additional Assistance ........................................................... 35

Appendix ................................................................................ 36
Tax School Resources ...................................................................... 36
California Interactive Distance Learning Online Course .................... 36
Setting Up Classes in Employee Education eService ....................................... 36
Delivering the California Interactive Distance Learning Online Course ............. 37
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Timeframe and Format ...................................................................................... 37

Sample Schedule for Online Basic Income Tax 1, 2, and 3 .............................. 38

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Basic Income Tax Course Overview

The Basic Income Tax Course (BIT) consists of three modules: Basic Income Tax 1,
2, and 3. The Course is designed for individuals studying to become Registered Tax
Return Preparers (RTRPs) and tax preparers who need a refresher in basic tax
concepts. It covers the basic tax concepts necessary to accurately and completely
prepare an individual income tax return. The three modules are designed to
progressively build upon each other and should be taught as a complete course.
This year, the BIT course has been enriched to include a focus on the IRS RTRP
Competency Test. Updates include:

Addition of RTRP Competency Test topics not previously included

Two new sessions on the topics of Practices and Procedures, and Ethics
References to Publication 17 throughout the course
Modified Assessment questions that more closely mirror the type of
questions asked on the RTRP Test.
Eligible for 10 hours of continuing education credit for RTRPs and Preparer
Tax Identification Number (PTIN) Holders

We continue to recommend that you offer the entire BIT curriculum to your students
and tax preparers so they will be better prepared for the Competency Test.
There are three different formats for delivering the Basic Income Tax Course:

Traditional Classroom: This textbook-based course is led by an

instructor in a traditional classroom environment at a Jackson Hewitt Tax
Service location. To enhance the learning experience and make the
course more engaging, instructors can use the BIT PowerPoint
presentations (no audio) to teach the class. The presentations are
available from the Tax School / Instructor Toolkit page of the Learning
Center.

Facilitated Classroom: This course is designed to be held in a

traditional classroom environment and is taught using the online modules
with a facilitator/proctor on hand for each class. The facilitator/proctors
role is to take attendance, monitor the sessions, and facilitate Knowledge
Check Questions, homework exercises, assessments, etc., as well as
deliver state tax information and reinforces the tax concepts as they are
presented in the sessions. The Facilitated version is the same as the
online version. To access the facilitated BIT course, first setup the class
on Employee Education. Then, register as either a student or the
instructor for the class. You will then be able to access the course from
your learning plan on the Learning Center.

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Online at Taxschool.com, including the California Interactive Distance

Learning/Online Course: Students learn on their own time, at their own
pace from any computer connected to the Internet. Instructors assist
students primarily via email and during periodic in-office labs. Although the
course is taught remotely, it is important that instructors reach out to students
on a regular basis. We recommend you combine this online delivery method
with scheduled labs in your office to review homework and assessments, do
practice returns, and follow-up to ensure students are successfully keeping
up with the course agenda. (Note: BIT Online is not available in all states.
Check your states page on JHnet for regulations.)
Note for California Interactive Distance Learning/Online Course (CA Online):
There are California Supplements for BIT 1, 2, and 3, which have been
developed to assist in applying the principles of BIT to California individual
income tax returns. In addition, some sessions include additional federal
information to cover federal tax topics not included in BIT but required to be
covered for California qualifying education. For CA Online, facilitators need
to teach the students the tax rules for California and as well as for the
additional federal information.
The Basic Income Tax Course content is the same regardless of format. Students
will follow similar agendas, use the same practice scenarios, and have access to the
online Assessments. Detailed information on how to facilitate the course in each
format is provided in the following chapters. For information specific to the California
Interactive Distance Learning/Online Course, see the Appendix of this Guide.
The complete Basic Income Tax Course includes approximately 90 instructional
hours of content plus assessments. We also offer a General State Information
module which adds approximately three hours on common state tax return
preparation, for a total of 93 instructional hours.
Note: For more details on timing recommendations, refer to the 2012 BIT
Session Timings spreadsheet on the Learning Center. This spreadsheet
shows the Table of Contents for BIT 1, BIT 2, and BIT 3 along with suggested
timing for each session. Information about timing is also included in the BIT
Lesson Plans.
New this year - the Basic Income Tax Course is eligible for 10 continuing education
credits for RTRPs and PTIN Holders. Note that this course is not eligible for
continuing education credits for Enrolled Agents.

Fees for the Basic Income Tax Course

Operators determine what to charge for their courses. Many operators offer the
course tuition-free and charge only for books and materials. Check the fees
associated with other tax courses in your area, including competitors and other
Jackson Hewitt franchises, to ensure your prices are competitive.

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Note: We recommend that students participating in the online course be issued the
BIT books. You can purchase the books from Pearson. Alternately, you can provide
your online students with a link to the Jackson Hewitt student site to purchase the
books on their own. Online students can also access individual Participants Manual
sessions from the Resources tab in the online course.
Our tax courses are subject to regulation under proprietary school laws and
regulations in many states. If you operate a Tax School in one of these
states, you may have to obtain a license or registration to offer your tax
courses and meet other requirements relating to facilities, instructor
qualifications, and contributions to tuition guaranty funds, bonding and
advertising. Review the laws in your state to ensure you are in compliance
with these requirements.
For more information, see the State Regulations section on your state's
information page on JHnet or email Jackson Hewitts Regulatory Affairs
Analyst at TaxSchoolRegs@jtax.com.
If you need help understanding the requirements for operating a Tax School,
contact your Franchise Service Manager, Operations Director, or the
Learning Group at TaxSchool@jtax.com. If you have a legal advisor for your
business, consider adding the Tax School state requirements to his or her
duties.

Basic Income Tax Course Materials

Materials for Basic Income Tax 1, 2, and 3 include the following:

Online Course and Assessment modules

BIT Tour module

BIT PowerPoint Presentations*

Participants Manuals+

Facilitators Guides*+

Transparencies+

Tax return files*

Lesson plans*

This Basic Income Tax Course Rollout Guide*

*These materials are available for download from the Jackson Hewitt Learning
Center.
+These materials are available from Pearson. See the Operate Your Tax School
Page of the Learning Center for website information.

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Welcome Packets
When students register, present them with a welcome packet that includes:

Registration Recap Letter When you register the student in Employee

Education eService, you can print a Registration Letter that serves as
both a receipt for the students payment and an information sheet
containing their PCenter, Username and Password.
o Initially, for new students, the Username and Password will be the
same: the first eight letters of their last name and their first initial (e.g.
SmithD). Existing employees will use their JHnet Username and
Password. New employees who are logging in for the first time will use
their JHnet Username. Their Password will be the last 4 digits of their
Social Security Number. New students and new employees will be
prompted to change their passwords after they log in.

The Welcome Letter This customizable letter template is available on

the Operate Your Tax School Business Center/Filling Classes. Enter your
information to give students details about the course they are taking, their
instructor, labs, and classroom events.

A schedule for the course and lab work Sample schedules are provided
later in this guide. We also recommend that you provide students with a
list of expectations and responsibilities while they are taking the course,
such as when and how often to check in with the office, process for
completing assessments, course completion guidelines etc.

Basic Income Tax Course Participants Manual

Important Note: When a student is first registered for a course,
their course will not display for up to 30 minutes on the My
Classes page on TaxSchool.com until the student logs into
Taxschool.com for the first time.
Best Practice: Instruct your students to log into TaxSchool.com
as soon as they receive their registration letter. This will ensure
that their login works properly, allows them to change their
password, and to populate the My Classes page prior to starting
the course.

Basic Income Tax Course Content

The Basic Income Tax Course content is organized as follows:
Basic Income Tax 1 (Approximately 30 hours of content provided in seven sessions
and the Course Review and Assessment)
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Session 1: Filing Information

Session 2: Exemptions and Dependents
Session 3: Filing Status and Standard Deduction
Session 4: Wages, Tax Rates, and Tax Table
Session 5: Credits, Part I
Session 6: Credits, Part II
Session 7: Itemized Deductions
Basic Income Tax Course 1 Review
Basic Income Tax Course 1 Assessment
Basic Income Tax 2 (Approximately 30 hours of content provided in seven sessions
and the Course Review and Assessment)
Session 9: Interest and Dividends
Session 10: Retirement Plans and Social Security
Session 11: Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions
Session 12: Self-Employment
Session 13: Individual Retirement Accounts
Session 14: Other Income and Adjustments to Income
Session 15: Estimated Tax, Underpayment Penalty, and Extensions
Basic Income Tax Course 2 Review
Basic Income Tax Course 2 Assessment
Basic Income Tax 3 (Approximately 30 hours of content provided in eight sessions
and the Course Review and Assessment)
Session 17: Basis of Property
Session 18: Capital Gains and Losses
Session 19: Depreciation, Part I
Session 20: Depreciation, Part II
Session 21: Rental Income and Expenses
Session 22: Other Commonly Filed Forms
Session 23: Practices and Procedures NEW!!
Session 24: Ethics NEW!!
Basic Income Tax Course 3 Review
Basic Income Tax Course 3 Assessment
General State Information Module (Approximately 3 hours of content provided in
one session)
State filing requirements
Sources of income and residency status
Multiple state returns, including credit for taxes paid to other states
Starting points for state returns
Additions, subtractions, filing status, exemptions, deductions, credits, and due
dates

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Session Content
Each session of the Basic Income Tax Course is divided into sections that provide
the students with important information and useful feedback. Each session contains
the following:

Introduction Provides a brief overview of what is covered in the session. It

includes a reference to the part of IRS Publication 17, or other resources, where
the bulk of the session information can be found.

Objectives Lists the main concepts student should learn upon

completion of the session. Present the session objectives to the students
and post them in the classroom on a board or flip chart. Answer any
questions students may have about the objectives. The session
objectives are taught in the content of the course and are reinforced in the
Knowledge Check, Homework or Review, and Assessment exercises.

Session Content - Covers tax theory and instructions for preparing

individual tax returns in a logical, straight-forward fashion. It includes text,
illustrations, examples, and other elements used to teach each concept.

Knowledge Check Exercises These exercises reinforce the content of

each section and provide feedback to the student. They are not graded,
but are intended to help students comprehend and retain information as
they move through the course. Use the Facilitators Guide to help you
review the answers with students.

Session Summary - Reviews key points from the session.

Homework or Review Exercises - Most sessions have homework

exercises that reinforce and highlight the content of the session and
provide feedback to the student. The last sessions in BIT 1, 2, and 3,
sessions 7, 15, and 24, do not have homework. After these sessions are
completed, students should complete the appropriate cumulative Course
Review, which covers all of the sessions up to that point, before they take
the Assessment. The Review exercises are comprehensive and are used
to prepare students for the Course Assessments. Answers for the
Review exercises are provided in the Facilitators Guide and include
additional information that helps explain what tax theories need to be
considered to complete the exercise.

Session and Course Assessments - Graded tests to measure knowledge

of the session and course content. Each session has a corresponding
Assessment, and there is a Course Assessment at the end of BIT 1, BIT
2, and BIT 3. All assessments are provided in an online format only.
The online BIT modules (including assessments) are available through
TaxSchool.com, regardless of the delivery method of the course.
Registered students in the traditional and facilitated classroom and online
course must take their assessments online.

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The Online Assessments provide many capabilities including:

o Automatic update and calculation of grades in Employee
Education
o Randomization of questions and question order. Each assessment
has a pool of questions, out of which test items will be randomly pulled
and presented to the student. Such randomization helps to ensure the
integrity of the assessment.
o Availability of detailed test results. At the end of the assessment,
the student can print out a report so that they can get immediate
feedback on their performance. They will be able to see their overall
score and the questions that they answered correctly and incorrectly.
This information will help you see which questions the student missed
and provide you with a better idea of the areas where they may need
remediation.
Note: If you have supervisor permissions on the Learning Center, you can also run a
report of the students scores on the assessments. For detailed steps, please refer
to the Course Scores Report Job Aid located in the Supervisor Tools page of the
Learning Center.
Facilitators Guide
The Facilitators Guide includes all information that is in the Participants Manual. It
also includes additional information, such as notes to help you clarify or expand on
certain topics, Homework answers, and Course Review answers.
The Facilitators Guide also includes space in the margin for you to enter your own
notes.
Presentation of Exercises
All the exercises in the Basic Income Tax course are either knowledge-based or
performance-based. Knowledge-based exercises include multiple-choice, fill-in-theblank, and matching questions which test the students comprehension and recall of
information presented in the session.
Although performance-based exercises may vary, normally each exercise includes a
scenario with instructions and if needed, primary source documents, such as W-2s.
Students typically complete full or partial tax forms or returns. These exercises test
the students ability to take the information presented in the session and produce
accurate tax returns.
The Participants Manual and the online course include correct answers and
feedback for the Knowledge Check. Homework and Homework answers are also
included in the Resources tab for the online course.

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Certificates of Completion
Once students have successfully completed the Course and all online assessments,
provide them with a Certificate of Completion. The certificate indicates the 10
continuing education (CE) credits earned. The CE credits can be applied by RTRPs
and PTIN Holders towards the annual IRS federal tax CE requirement. Certificates
are available for download and customization on JHnet.
University of Phoenix College Credit
Students who successfully complete the Basic Income Tax course are eligible to
transfer college credits to a degree program at the University of Phoenix.
For more information, please refer to the Articulation with the University of Phoenix
job aid in the Catalog of the Learning Center.

Using the Employee Education eService

Using the Employee Education eService, you can create and maintain records for
your leads, employees, and Basic Income Tax Course classes. Information
recorded in this eService automatically updates student records on the Employee
Information eService History tab.
Student history and Assessment scores from the Learning Center are also stored
here, so you can view all the information about your courses and students in one
place.
For detailed instructions on using the Employee Education eService, refer to the
Tax School Resources section of the Operate Your Tax School page on the
Learning Center. These job aids provide step-by-step instruction on the following
topics:

Creating/Updating a Lead

Creating a Class

Creating a Training Course

Registering Students

Attendance

Evaluating a Student

Hiring A Student

Setting Up ProFiler Labs

Setting Up Third-Party Courses.

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12

The Instructors Role

Instructors play a crucial role in the Tax School learning process. Regardless of the
course format, Instructors are charged with guiding students through the complex
subject of taxes, helping them when they need additional assistance, and
encouraging them to complete the course.
Responsibilities
All Instructors are expected to complete the Instructors Training curriculum on the
Learning Center. This comprehensive training ensures instructors have the
knowledge, skills and abilities to run effective Tax School class sessions.
In addition, for all classes, Instructors are expected to:

Confirm that students have completed any prerequisites before attending

a session or classroom event. Run course completion reports on the
Learning Center to verify each learners completed training.

Welcome students to the Tax School and provide them with a Welcome
Packet.

Manage course sessions, including schedules, materials, rosters, and

locations.

Deliver course content, including explaining tax theory and keeping in

mind the unique learning needs of adults. The success of the Basic
Income Tax Course depends on the Instructors ability to clearly convey
the federal tax law requirements and the state tax laws if applicable.

Administer exercises and assessments, and review them with students.

Guide students through classroom activities and labs.

Answer questions and resolve issues or problems. Build a cooperative

learning environment so students feel comfortable asking questions.
Keep discussions positive and constructive and make sure key points are
summarized before moving ahead.

Track students progress. View reports and provide feedback or one-onone help when its needed to ensure students are learning the material.

Follow up with absent students.

Create enthusiasm through their energy and positive attitude.

Provide information about potential employment opportunities at Jackson

Hewitt. Remind tax school instructors that they are providing students
with their initial impressions of Jackson Hewitt.

Evaluate students and make recommendations to the Operator, General

Manager, and Tax School Coordinator regarding consideration for
possible employment.

Communicate regularly with the Tax School Coordinator and Operator.

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13

Materials and Equipment

Before classes start, Instructors should gather the materials and equipment needed
to effectively run classroom events. The following checklist details what you need to
have on hand, along with some notes about how you will use the materials.
Materials and Equipment Checklist

Welcome Packet

Participants Manuals

Facilitators Guide

Lesson Plans

Transparencies

IRS Publications and Forms

Online Assessments

Jackson Hewitt Facilitated BIT

presentations

Computer stations and software

LCD, overhead projector, and

facilitator computer

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Provide a Welcome Packet for each student that

includes the Welcome Letter, class schedule, and the
Registration Recap Letter (listing the students
Username, Pcenter, and Password).
Provide one book for each student. Order books
through the Pearson website. (Review the
Determining Staffing Needs Worksheet on the
Operate Your Tax School Page of the Learning
Center for tips on planning for the number of students
necessary for your operations.)
Review the information available on JHnet about
charging fees for books and supplies. There are
state regulatory requirements that you must follow.
Download this Guide from the Instructors Toolkit on
the Operate Your Tax School Page of the Learning
Center or order it through Pearson. It contains the
full student text as well as direction on facilitating the
Basic Income Tax Course.
Use Lesson Plans to prepare for all formats of
delivery. Lesson Plans identify the exact learning
objectives and content for each session, including
timing, content summaries, assessments, and other
individual and group activities. Download Lesson
Plans from the Instructors Toolkit on the Learning
Center.
Transparencies support classroom instruction and
assist in the teaching of IRS Forms and Schedules.
Order these through Pearson.
The Facilitators Guide for each course contains a list
of the recommended IRS Publications and Forms.
These can be downloaded from www.irs.gov. Blank
forms are also included in the Workbook located in
each Participants Manual.
All students must take Assessments online so grades
are automatically recorded and populated on the
Learning Center and in Employee Education.
Use these modules when delivering the Facilitated
BIT Course.
Provide at least one workstation for every two
students.
Use these to run the modules for the Jackson Hewitt
Facilitated BIT course, display transparencies and

demonstrate the ProFiler Interview.

You may also purchase a poster-sized, laminated
1040 form for in class demonstrations directly from

14

 Flip chart and markers

Masking tape

Extra pens/pencils

Name tents

Certificates of Completion

RR Donnelly.
Have available to jot down brainstorm lists and points
of clarification for the participants.
Use to post flip chart notes so students can view
them for reference.
Have extras on hand for students.
Display students names to help you get to know
them and help them get to know each other.
Certificates can be downloaded from JHnet and
customized for your students.

Additional information and tools for the Instructor are available:

o Instructors Toolkit on the Learning Center Instructors one-stop for all their
instructing needs.
o Operate Your Tax School Page on the Learning Center.
o The Facilitators Guide for each module.

Preparing Students for the Registered Tax Return

Preparer (RTRP) Test
Understanding and complying with the new IRS tax preparer regulations can be
confusing for students who are working towards becoming new tax preparers. As
your BIT classes progress, educate your students so they understand what is
involved with becoming an RTRP, including obtaining their Preparer Tax
Identification Number (PTIN), preparing for and passing the RTRP Competency
Test, and meeting continuing education requirements.
Jackson Hewitt has many tools and resources that you can offer to assist existing
tax preparers and Tax School students with preparing for the RTRP Competency
Test. In addition to teaching the topics in the Basic Income Tax Course, show your
tax preparers and Tax School students that you support their efforts towards
becoming an RTRP by offering them the following:
ExamMatrixTM RTRP Exam Review Course
Description: ExamMatrix is a leading provider of computer-based test prep
courses. Their RTRP Exam Review Course provides a robust simulation of the
actual test, including detailed diagnostics on a question by question basis and the
use of actual IRS Publications. This course utilizes active learning to assist students
with test taking skills and is an excellent resource when used in combination with the
Basic Income Tax Course.

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15

How to Offer It: Operators had the opportunity to enroll existing tax preparers for
free by emailing their information to the Learning Group. For information on offering
this course to new students, please see the ExamMatrix FAQs on the Learning
Center.
Cost: You can offer this course to preparers that completed returns for your
operation last year, for FREE; and to students for the low discounted price of $50, of
which you are able to retain $10.
Mock Test
Description: A simulated test that allows students to practice answering questions
in each of the Domains that they will likely encounter during the actual Test.
How to Offer It: Register students for the Mock Test through Employee Education
eService. Register inactive/terminated tax preparers for the Off Season Learn
Center Access/RTRP Test Prep course in Employee Education eServices; they will
be able to access the Mock Test from TaxSchool.com.
Note: Review the Administering the RTRP Mock Test Implementation Guide for
details on preparing for and administering the Mock Test. Download the guide from
the Catalog Page of the Learning Center.
Cost: The Mock Test is available for free on the Learning Center.
Domain Games
Description: Engaging online games that test tax knowledge and provide insight
into knowledge gaps within the content domains on the RTRP Test.
How to Offer It: Students can access the Domain Games from the RTRP Test Prep
link on the My Classes page of TaxSchool.com.
Cost: Domain Games are available for free on the Learning Center.
Remediation Index
Description: The Remediation Index suggests available remediation materials for
each RTRP test domain. This index is available at the end of the mock test and as a
separate handout on the Learning Center.
How to Offer It: Students can access this resource from the RTRP Test Prep link
on the My Classes page of Tax School.com.
Cost: The Remediation Index is available for free on the Learning Center.
Becoming Familiar with the RTRP Online Resources Module
Description: The IRS resource materials available for use during the Test can be
cumbersome and difficult to navigate. This module allows learners to practice using
these tools, so they are comfortable with the IRS provided resource materials when
taking the actual Test.
How to Offer It: Students can access this module from the RTRP Test Prep link on
the My Classes page of Tax School.com.
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16

Cost: This course is available for free through the Learning Center.
Test Taking Strategies Job Aid
Description: This job aid provides strategies to reduce test anxiety, boost testtakers confidence, and enhance their preparedness for the RTRP Test. (Note: this
job aid will be available in late June.)
How to Offer It: Students can access this resource from the RTRP Test Prep link
on the My Classes page of Tax School.com.
Cost: This resource is available for free on the Learning Center.
Materials for Conducting an RTRP Study Group
Description: This turnkey program is designed to assist Provisional PTIN Holders
with preparing for the RTRP Competency Test. The Study Group is a collaborative
process that promotes dialogue and discussions among participants on key test
topics. Note: we recommend the study group for experienced tax preparers.
How to Offer It: Materials are available on the Tax Education Center page of the
Learning Center, and include a Rollout Guide, facilitator PowerPoint Presentations,
and participant job aids.
Cost: The Study Group materials are available for free on the Learning Center.
What to Expect on Test Day Video
Description: This video, developed by Prometrics, walks viewers through the entire
test taking experience at a Prometric testing center. This video will help preparers
feel more comfortable and prepared when they arrive at a testing center. Viewing is
highly recommended prior to arriving to take the RTRP.
How to Offer It: Students can access this video from the RTRP Test Prep link on
the My Classes page of Tax School.com.
Cost: This resource is available for free on the Learning Center.

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17

Instructing a Traditional Classroom Course

Detailed instructions for leading each session are included in the BIT Facilitators
Guides and Lesson Plans, which are both available for download on the Learning
Center. The Lesson Plans provide substantial direction for content and flow of each
session, including:

Suggested materials, including IRS Publications and Transparencies

Introductions and Objectives which clearly define the key learning

elements of the session

Lesson outlines that provide approximate timing and a summary of the

materials

Lesson Plans do not include the more specific information

Instructors have gleaned from personal experience preparing
tax returns. Customize your Lesson Plans to include real-life
scenarios, guarding ALL personal information, that relate to your
topics of learning. Your actual experiences enhance the
textbook learning and make the information more applicable to
real situations involving tax preparation.

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18

Timeframe and Format

We recommend offering the Basic Income Tax Course in two sessions per week.
This results in a minimum of a 13-week course that includes Basic Income Tax 1, 2,
and 3, and the General State Information Module. The 13-Week Course Plan on the
following page shows how to schedule the sessions over the 13-week time period.
You should also plan open Lab times in addition to the class sessions to allow
students to practice what they have learned, do homework, and ask questions. For
the 2012 Tax School season, we recommend beginning the 13-week course no later
than the week of August 27.

13-week Course Plan for Basic Income Tax Course 1, 2, and 3

and the General State Information Module
Week #

First Session

Second Session

+Session 1, including Knowledge Checks,

Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 1 Homework

Session 2, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 2 Homework

Session 3, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 3 Homework

Session 4, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 4 Homework

Session 5, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 5 Homework

Session 6, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 6 Homework

Session 7, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment
**Basic Income Tax 1 Course Review

Basic Income Tax 1 Course Assessment

Session 9, including Knowledge Checks,

Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 9 Homework

Session 10, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 10 Homework

Session 11, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 11 Homework

Session 12, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 12 Homework

Session 13, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 13 Homework

Session 14, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 14 Homework

Session 15, including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment
***Basic Income Tax 2 Course Review

Basic Income Tax 2 Course Assessment

Session 17, including Knowledge Checks,

Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 17 Homework

Session 18 including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

7/26/2012

19

Week #
10

11

12

13

First Session

Second Session

Review Session 18 Homework

Session 19 including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 19 Homework

Session 20 including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 20 Homework

Session 21 including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 21 Homework

Session 22 including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 22 Homework

Session 23 including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment

Review Session 23 There is no Homework,

so allow students to ask questions.
Session 24 including Knowledge Checks,
Session Summary, and *Session Assessment
**Basic Income Tax 3 Course Review

Basic Income Tax 3 Course Assessment

General State Information Module

+Because of the length of Session 1, in order not to overwhelm students during the first class, you
may want to consider adding an additional class to allow for splitting Session 1 into two classes. For
example, teach Session 1 through Lesson III: Filing Requirements in the first class, and start with
Lesson IV: Form 1040 in the second class
*Complete the Session Assessment at the end of the corresponding session or at the beginning of
the next session (after reviewing the Homework, as applicable)
**Due to the time it may take to complete the Course Review, consider offering it as Homework or
setting up a separate session.

Course Reviews

We recommend that all students complete the Course Reviews before the Course
Assessments. To accommodate these during class, you can use one of the
following methods or use one of your own:

Offer additional optional classes after Sessions 7, 15, and 24, and before
the Course Assessments.

After finishing Sessions 7, 15, and 24, have students complete the
Course Review on their own time like Homework, and discuss the Review
at the beginning of the following session before the Course Assessment.
Start this class at least 30 minutes early to accommodate the discussion.

7/26/2012

20

Schedule
Set a schedule that includes class time as well as Lab time for students to do
homework and practice what they have learned. Remember to plan around
holidays. Distribute the schedule to students so they are aware of all class and lab
times. The following sample schedule shows a 13-week course including lab time.
Sample Schedule for 13-Week Basic Income Tax 1, 2, and 3
and the General State Information Module
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Free
Information
Seminar
Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Week
9
Week
10
Week
11
Week
12
Week
13

7/26/2012

Session 1

Session 3

Session 5

Session 7

Session 9

Session 11

Session 13

Session 15

Session 17

Session 19

Session 21

Session 23

Course 3
Assessment

Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work

Session 2

Session 4

Session 6

Course 1
Assessment
Session 10

Session 12

Session 14

Course 2
Assessment
Session 18

Session 20

Session 22

Session 24

General State
Information
Module

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Open
House

Open
House

Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work
Offices
open for
lab work

Offices
open for lab
work
Offices
open for lab
work
Offices
open for lab
work
Offices
open for lab
work
Offices
open for lab
work
Offices
open for lab
work
Offices
open for lab
work
Offices
open for lab
work
Offices
open for lab
work
Offices
open for lab
work
Offices
open for lab
work
Offices
open for lab
work
Celebration!

21

Preparation
Before each session, prepare by reading through the material (we highly
recommend that new instructors complete the online course prior to starting their
class), reviewing the notes in the Facilitators Guide and the Lesson Plans (available
from the Instructors Tool Kit on the Learning Center), and gathering the
transparencies and recommended IRS Publications. Incorporate personal
experiences and examples, as well as relevant information that is pertinent to your
state.
The following diagram is a sample course format for teaching, Basic Income Tax 1:
Session 2.

Sample Course Format for Traditional Classroom

Session: Basic Income Tax 1 Session 2

Total Suggested Instructional Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes (130 minutes; based on timing
provided in the margins of the Facilitators Guide)
Total Class Time: 3 hours, 25 minutes (205 minutes) to allow time to take attendance,
review the Session 1 Homework, administer the Session 1 Assessment, have two 10-minute
breaks, and wrap up the class.

Use the following checklist to ensure smooth flow of the module.

7/26/2012

22

Preparation Checklist for the Traditional Classroom Basic Income Tax Course

Review the Facilitators Guide and Lesson

Take notes as you review these materials.

Include points you want to stress, examples
you can add from your own experiences, and
information that you want to emphasize.

Complete the entire course prior to teaching

your class. This will provide a chance to
familiarize yourself with the course material
and experience the online assessments.

Gather local materials

Gathering material ahead of time will help

you stay more organized throughout the day.
Specifically, prepare any state- or cityspecific tax information.

Check the equipment

Ensure that all equipment is operating

properly well before the start of each session.

Learn how to use the equipment prior to the

start of the session.

Arrange seating

Make sure there are plenty of chairs

available for the participants.

Position the LCD, overhead projector, and

Make sure that all participants have a clear

view.

Plans

Complete the Online Basic Income Tax

Course (New Instructors)

flip chart easel

Practice using the Transparencies and the

1040 Laminated Poster.

7/26/2012

Practice your presentation by becoming

comfortable using the Transparencies and
the form 1040 poster, if applicable. This will
ensure smooth display and content transition.

23

Room Accommodations and Layout Recommendations

The size of a room and the number of students can have an impact on the learning
environment. The recommended class size for the Basic Income Tax Course is no
larger than 20-25 students. Ensure that students fit comfortably in the facility.
If you are using your office as your class location, rearrange the office, if possible, to
look more like a classroom. Make sure there is a good view of the instructor from
each seat and the environment is conducive to learning. Past feedback indicates
that students are distracted and feel uncomfortable when they are asked to sit at
someones workstation. Its a small but important detail that makes a big difference!
Consider setting up your classroom in one of the following configurations:
Configuration 1

Configuration 2

Running the Session

To facilitate the Basic Income Tax Course sessions and help ensure students get
the best learning experience possible, the instructor should use the following
methods:

Greet the students. Aim to provide a welcoming, relaxed, professional

environment in which they can learn.

Use icebreakers. These are a good way for students to meet one another
and become more comfortable in their learning environment and they
can also be a lot of fun. Conduct an icebreaker at the beginning of the
first session to introduce students to one another. Icebreakers may also
be effective following a break or before starting a new segment.

Review the session outline in the Facilitators Guide with the class, and
post it in the classroom so students can see it clearly throughout the
session.

Review the session objectives with the class.

7/26/2012

24

Introduce the forms that students will be learning about in the session. In
some cases, they will be learning about a part of a form that they will be
completing, while in others, they will be learning about the records that
the taxpayer should provide.

Offer students at least two 10-minute breaks during the class.

Review the correct answers for the Homework or Review exercises with
students.

Use reinforcements and rewards. Consider giving out candy or other

small prizes for completing components of the course. For example, after
the Homework or Review exercises (right before the Session
Assessment) is a good time to reinforce what students have learned and
reward them for learning.

Conduct a session review and question-and-answer session before the

Assessment.

Provide students with their Username, Pcenter, and Password, which

they will use to log into the Basic Income Tax Course for taking
Assessments.

Review Session Assessment grades with students individually.

At the end of each class, remind students about the schedule for the next
class and what homework they need to do.

7/26/2012

25

Instructing a Facilitated Classroom Course

The content, preparation and logistical details of the Facilitated Classroom course is
very similar to the Traditional Classroom course; however, there is a difference in
the way the information is presented to the students. In the Facilitated course, the
content is delivered primarily via the online module which you will advance slide by
slide. This allows you to have control over the pace of the presentation and enables
you to be able to interject additional information and examples, facilitate Knowledge
Check Questions, and answer students questions about the content presented. As
a facilitator for this class, your role is similar to your role in the Traditional Classroom
course except there is audio narration to help teach the students the course content.
Timeframe, Format, and Schedule
Because the preparation and logistical details of the Facilitated Classroom course is
very similar to the Traditional Classroom course, please familiarize yourself with the
previous chapter, Instructing a Traditional Classroom Course, to learn about course
plans, schedules, preparation, room layouts, and tips for running a class.
As with the Traditional Classroom format, we recommend scheduling sessions twice
a week. This results in a minimum of a 13-week course that includes Basic Income
Tax 1, 2, and 3, and the General State Information Module. A 13-Week Course Plan
is shown in the Instructing a Traditional Classroom Course chapter.
You should also plan open lab times in addition to the class sessions to allow
students to practice what they have learned, do homework, and discuss questions
with the instructor. Refer to the Sample Schedule in the Instructing a Traditional
Classroom Course chapter for an example.
Preparation
Prepare for your Facilitated Classroom sessions by completing the following
preliminary activities. Instructions for many of these steps are provided later in the
chapter.

Designate one computer to use to access the presentations from the

Learning Center. The computer needs to have an internet connection
and audio capability with speakers that allow all students in the classroom
to hear the audio clearly.

Make sure the computers that students will use to complete the
Assessments meet the minimum system requirements listed in the
Technology Standards on JHnet.

Set up the class and student accounts in the Employee Education

eService.

Review the following materials:

o Facilitators Guide
o Lesson Plans (available on the Learning Center)

7/26/2012

26

o Session content

Review IRS Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, other relevant IRS
publications, and other materials that may pertain to your state or
location, and keep copies of them to refer to during the session.

Print copies of the Homework exercises as appropriate.

Practice running the sessions prior to the actual class time.

Use the following checklist to make sure you are prepared for your Facilitated
Classroom course.
Preparation Checklist for the Facilitated Classroom
Basic Income Tax Course

Reviews the Facilitators Guide, Lesson

Take notes as you review the guide. Include

points you want to stress, examples you can
add from your own experiences, and
information that you want to emphasize.

Complete the Online BIT course prior to

facilitating the class to become familiar with
the course content and assessments.

Gather local materials

Gathering this material ahead of time will

help you stay more organized throughout the
day. Specifically, prepare any state- or cityspecific tax information.

Prepare the computers

Make sure the class and student accounts

are set up in Employee Education and print
rosters with students login information.

Arrange workstations. Ensure the computers

that students will use to complete the course
assessments meet the minimum system
requirements.

Plans, and complete the Basic Income

Tax Course online modules.

Check the equipment

Properly position the LCD, overhead

Check
the equipment
Ensure that
all equipment
is operating
properly well before the start of each session.

Learn how to use the equipment prior to the

start of the session.

Make sure that all participants have a clear

view.

Practice your presentation by becoming

comfortable using the Transparencies and/or
the Form 1040 poster. This will ensure
smooth display and content transition.

projector, and flip chart easel

Practice using the Transparencies and

1040 Laminate Poster

7/26/2012

27

Setting Up Student Accounts

When you register students in the Employee Education eService, they will be
assigned a Username and Password. You must give each student their assigned
Username, PCenter, and Password, which they will use to log into the Basic Income
Tax Course to complete the online assessments and review course sessions (if
needed). Print a Registration Letter containing login and receipt information for each
student by clicking Print Registration during the registration process or from the
Student tab. Usernames also appear on the class roster, which you can print by
clicking Print Roster on the Students tab for each class. (See the Username &
Password Management section below for more information.)
Using the Basic Income Tax Course
You will need to give students a brief demonstration of the course and how it works
so that they can easily access the course assessments. Point students to the BIT
Tour module in their BIT Development Plan.

Facilitating an Online Course

While an online course can be flexible and rewarding for students, it can also be a
challenge for Instructors. It is more difficult to ensure students understand the
information, and to form relationships with and foster a sense of community among
your virtual students, but it can be done if Instructors maintain frequent
communication with online students. The following steps will help you form
relationships with your online students.
Before the course begins:

Call or meet with each student and introduce yourself as the Instructor.
Because most of your communication will be via email and other written
postings, it is important to make this initial contact more personal through face
to face contact or verbally over the phone, not via email.

Provide each student with a Welcome Packet including:

7/26/2012

Registration Letter

Welcome Letter

Instructor contact information and expectations for periodic

communication

Their Username and Password and instructions that they will be

prompted to change their Password the first time they log into
the course (this is included in their Registration letter)

Instructions to view the BIT Tour module located in their BIT

Development Plan on taxschool.com

Homework and lab requirements

A schedule of lab times and classroom events

28

An timeline of their expected progress

Minimum hardware and software requirements for running the

Basic Income Tax Course (found on JHnet). Note: Audio is
incorporated into the online course and speakers are required.

Introduce students to each other. Just as you would spend time getting to
know each other in a traditional classroom environment, ask students to
share things about themselves, such as a short bio.

Become familiar with the course interface, navigational features, Resources

tab, and Toolkit so you can assist students. When an online course is
created in Employee Education, and an Instructor is assigned, the Instructor
automatically has the ability to log in to the online course using their assigned
username.

During the course:

Schedule and announce labs and classroom events. While students are
learning the content through the online modules, its important that instructors
maintain face-to-face contact with students to:
o Evaluate the learning process and ensure theyre keeping up with the
agenda,
o Offer assistance and support as they apply what theyve learned by
completing practice returns,
o Provide instruction on difficult topics and state tax content, and
o Evaluate students for possible consideration for open tax office positions.

Although not all students will be able to attend every scheduled in-office event,
its important to encourage them to attend as many as they can. Before the
course begins, plan the meeting days and times and distribute the schedule
to all students. Then, each week email students a reminder with the in-office
event date(s) and agenda.
Review the Lesson Plan for the Online Learning Classroom Event for activities
that build rapport, community, tax knowledge, and camaraderie. Examples of
classroom events include:

Online Orientation Visit

Homework Labs

Assessment Labs

State Preparation Labs

End of course celebration and distribution of Certificates of

Completion

Offer students the opportunity to attend Traditional Classroom, Facilitated

Classroom, or Computerized Classroom sessions if they want to review a
session.

7/26/2012

29

Check your email regularly so you can address questions promptly, and
contact students regularly in the way that works best for them. Some will
prefer email; others will appreciate a phone call. Set up a weekly status
appointment with each student and either call or email them to see how they
are progressing and to answer questions

Follow up on students progress before each in-office lab and/or classroom

event. View reports in Employee Education and monitor test scores to
identify areas of confusion or weakness. Reach out to those students who
are not making progress to see if you can assist them in any way. Encourage
them to attend the in-office lab/classroom events or offer a private tutoring
session to provide one-on-one assistance.

Review the chapter on Instructing a Facilitated Classroom Course for

additional information on using the Basic Income Tax Course program.

Near the end of the course:

Plan a closing session for your online students. Bring them into the office for
a celebration and give out certificates. Continue building that sense of
community and camaraderie. Nurture the feeling that your online students
are a part of your Tax School learning team.

Identify next steps. If another course is available, secure enrollments. If its

time to introduce your Jackson Hewitt Tax Preparation office and its current
open positions, invite your online learners to a recruiting presentation. See
the In-Class Presentation materials on the Operate Your Tax School
Business Center for more information on conducting recruiting presentations.

Timeframe and Format

While online students can work at their own pace, they should be encouraged to
complete at least two sessions per week in order to finish the full course within 13
weeks. We also recommend you schedule open labs (remember to use the
Employee Education Job Aid - Setting up Labs for detailed instructions) for online
students and require them to attend at least one lab per course. This gives you a
chance to get to know students, make sure they are completing their course work,
and provide additional assistance and encouragement when needed.
The following sample online schedule would keep students on track for completing
the course in 13 weeks and let them know when labs are available. In addition to
the labs, you may want to require attendance at Classroom Events, such as the
recruiting presentation or require that all assessments be completed at the office.

Sample Schedule for Online Basic Income Tax 1, 2, and 3

Sunday
Free
Information

7/26/2012

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
Open
House

Friday

Saturday
Open House

30

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Seminar
Week 1

Sessions 1 and 2 completed this week.

Week 2

Sessions 3 and 4 completed this week.

Week 3

Sessions 5 and 6 completed this

week.

Classroom
Event Meet
the Operator

Email
students
about lab
work and
open lab
times

Offices open
for lab work
and taking
Assessments

Week 4

Session 7 and the Course 1

Assessment completed this week.

Offices open
for lab work

Email
students
about lab
work and
open lab
times

Offices open
for lab work
and taking
Assessments

Week 5

Classroom
Event

Sessions 9 and 10 completed this

week.

Email
students
about lab
work and
open lab
times

Offices open
for lab work
and taking
Assessments

Week 6

Sessions 11
and 12
completed
this week.

Offices open for lab work and taking

Assessments

Email
students
about lab
work and
open lab
times

Offices open
for lab work
and taking
Assessments

Week 7

Sessions 13
and 14
completed
this week.

Classroom Event

Email
students
about lab
work and
open lab
times

Offices open
for lab work
and taking
Assessments

Week 8

Sessions 15
and the
Course 2
Assessment
completed
this week.

Offices open for lab work and taking

Assessments

Email
students
about lab
work and
open lab
times

Offices open
for lab work
and taking
Assessments

Week 9

Sessions 17
and 18
completed

Offices open for lab work and taking

Assessments

Email
students
about lab

Offices open
for lab work
and taking

7/26/2012

Offices open
for lab work
and taking
Assessments

31

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

this week.

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

work and
open lab
times

Assessments

Week
10

Sessions 19
and 20
completed
this week.

Classroom Event Recruiting

Presentation

Email
students
about lab
work and
open lab
times

Offices open
for lab work
and taking
Assessments

Week
11

Sessions 21
and 22
completed
this week.

Classroom Event Review for

Assessment

Email
students
about lab
work and
open lab
times

Offices open
for lab work
and taking
Assessments

Week
12

Sessions 23
and 24
completed
this week.

Classroom Event Review for

Assessment

Email
students
about lab
work and
open lab
times

Offices open
for lab work
and taking
Assessments

Week
13

Course 3
Assessment
completed
this week.

Celebration!

Offices open
for lab work

Communicating with Students

While students work independently through the course, it is important that they have
someone they can turn to if they have a question or problem. Course Instructors
should provide students with as many ways for students to contact them as possible,
including a phone number and email address. If the Instructor is holding office
hours, they should also communicate this information to students.
Each student will have a JHmail account. The online course provides an editable
bulletin board where Instructors can post messages. This bulletin board can be
edited in Employee Education.
Preparation
Although you will not be teaching students, it is still important to prepare for an
online course. Students will expect the Instructor to be knowledgeable about the
topics they are learning and able to answer their questions.
The following checklist will help ensure you are ready to facilitate an online course.

7/26/2012

32

Preparation Checklist for the Online Basic Income Tax Course

Review the Facilitators Guide, Lesson

Take notes as you review the guide. Include

points you want to stress, examples you can
add from your own experiences, and
information that you want to emphasize
during labs or classroom events.

Complete the entire course online. This will

prepare you to answer basic navigational and
other program related questions from your
online students.

Gather local materials

Prepare any state- or city-specific tax

information you want to cover during labs or
classroom events.

Set up students

Make sure student accounts are set up in

Employee Education.

Provide students with their login information.

Have students log into TaxSchool.com as

soon as they receive their login information to
populate the My Classes page with their
development plan.

Learn how to use the equipment prior to the

start of any classroom events.

Ensure that all computers and equipment are

operating properly well before the start of
labs and classroom events.

Position the LCD, overhead projector, and

flip chart easel to ensure all participants have
a clear view.

Plans, and complete the Basic Income

Tax Course program.

Check the equipment

Username & Password Management

Students will need a Username, PCenter, and Password to access the online
course. Their Username is assigned when the student is registered for the class
and provided to the student at their online orientation visit and on the Registration
Letter printed during registration.
Initially, the Username and Password will be the same: the first eight letters of their
last name and their first initial (e.g. SmithD). When students log into the course on
TaxSchool.com for the first time, the system will prompt them to change their
password. (Employees who are taking a course for the first time will use their JHnet
Username and Password.)

7/26/2012

33

If a student forgets their password, the Instructor can reset the students password in
Account Management on JHnet. The student will be prompted to change their
password at the next log in. Account Management does not store passwords, so if a
student forgets this information, a new password will need to be assigned.
Important Note: When a student is first registered for a course
their course will not display for up to 30 minutes on the My
Classes page on TaxSchool.com until the student logs into
Taxschool.com for the first time.
Best Practice: Instruct your students to log into TaxSchool.com
as soon as they receive their registration letter. This will ensure
that their login works properly, allows them to change their
password, and to populate the My Classes page prior to starting
the course.
Scores & Tracking Student Progress
As students work through each section of the Online Course, their progress and
scores will be automatically uploaded to the Learning Center and the Evaluation tab
in Employee Education on JHnet. You will see the students progress shown by the
percent of the course they have completed, the most recent time the student
accessed the course, and average assessment score.
The Instructor should monitor these items on a regular basis. Tracking student
progress will tell you how well they are working through the course, and provide
insight on whether the student possesses the skills and qualities that would enable
them to fit into your organization as an employee. Use the Attendance Tab to enter
their attendance at labs and classroom events.
Once the student has completed the course, the Instructor should go into the
Evaluation tab and enter the following:

Recommendation preparer, peak preparer, other position, or do not hire

Interested check if student is interested in employment.

This information will help you determine which students may be considered for
employment opportunities.
State Specific Returns
The Online course does not include any state-specific return content. Operators will
have to determine the most effective way to deliver this information to online
students. Note: California Tax School operators should review the California
Supplement for information on delivering state specific information.

7/26/2012

34

Additional Assistance
New and additional information about the Basic Income Tax Course is frequently
added to the Operate Your Tax School page of the Jackson Hewitt Learning Center.
Please check this site often to stay current.
If you need additional assistance regarding your Tax School, please contact the
Learning Group at TaxSchool@jtax.com.

7/26/2012

35

Appendix
Tax School Resources
Following is a list of the files relating to the Basic Income Tax Course that are
available on the Operate Your Tax School page of the Learning Center.
Basic Income Tax Course 1, 2, and 3
File

Description

Audience

Facilitators Guides

PDF versions of the Facilitators

Guides

Instructors

Returns

Executable file to download

ProFiler return for homework
and other performance-based
exercises

Instructors

Return Instructions

Instructions for using the

ProFiler returns

Instructors

Rollout Guide

This document

Instructors

Lesson Plans

Guidance on teaching classes

Instructors

Participant Manual Updates

Latest and cumulative updates

to Basic Income Tax Course
Participants Manual materials,
as applicable

Students and Instructors

Facilitator Guide Updates

Latest and cumulative updates

to Basic Income Tax Course
Facilitators Guide materials, as
applicable

Instructors

California Interactive Distance Learning Online Course

This section contains additional information specific to facilitating the California
Interactive Distance Learning Online Course. California Tax School operators should
review and apply the information presented in this document in addition to the
information presented below when offering this course.

Setting Up Classes in Employee Education eService

When setting up this class, only select the 2012 BIT Online 1, 2, 3 (California Only)
option in Employee Education.

7/26/2012

36

Delivering the California Interactive Distance Learning Online Course

The Basic Income Tax Course content is the same regardless of format, and
includes approximately 90 instructional hours of federal income tax content,
including federal assessment questions. In addition, however, California operators
must also offer supplemental federal and state instruction to ensure students can
successfully pass the course assessments. Guidance on providing this information
can be found in the California Supplement. The Supplement includes additional
CTEC-required federal topics and more than 15 hours of CTEC California topics:

State filing requirements

Source of income and residency status
Multiple state returns, including credit for taxes paid to other states
Starting points for state returns
Additions, subtractions, filing status, exemptions, deductions, credits,
and due dates
CTEC required topics

Note that the California Supplement is not a self-study guide that can be provided to
students. It should be used as a guide for delivering the content in a classroom
environment. The Supplement can be downloaded from the Instructors Tool Kit on
the Operate Your Tax School page of the Learning Center.
Timeframe and Format

While online students can work at their own pace, they should be encouraged to
complete at least two-three sessions per week in order to finish the full course within
13 weeks. As mentioned above, state portions of the course are not included in the
online course. State information must be delivered in a classroom setting by an
instructor using the content outline provided in the California Supplement. We
recommend you hold periodic classroom events to provide state-specific instruction.
We also recommend you schedule open labs for online students and require them to
attend at least one lab per course. This gives you a chance to get to know students,
make sure they are completing their course work, practice state tax preparation, and
provide additional assistance and encouragement when needed.
The following sample schedule will keep students on track to complete the course in
13 weeks and includes lab time and classroom events to deliver state information
and the recruiting presentation.
7/26/2012

37

Sample Schedule for Online Basic Income Tax 1, 2, and 3

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Free
Information
Seminar

Thursday

Friday

Open House

Saturday
Open House

Week 1

Sessions 1 and 2 completed this week.

Classroom
Event State
Portion for
Sessions 1
and 2

Email students
about lab work
and open lab
times

Week 2

Sessions 3 and 4 completed this week.

Classroom
Event State
Portion for
Sessions 3
and 4

Email students
about lab work
and open lab
times

Offices open for

lab work and
taking
Assessments

Week 3

Sessions 5 and 6 completed this week.

Classroom
Event State
Portion for
Sessions 5
and 6

Email students
about lab work
and open lab
times

Offices open for

lab work and
taking
Assessments

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Week 4

Sessions 7 and the Course Review

completed this week.

Classroom Event
State Portion
for Sessions 7
and Course
Review

Email students
about lab work
and open lab
times

Offices open for

lab work and
taking
Assessments

Week 5

Classroom
Event

Sessions 9 and 10
completed this week.

Classroom Event
State Portion
for Sessions 9
and 10

Email students
about lab work
and open lab
times

Offices open for

lab work and
taking
Assessments

Week 6

Sessions 11
and 12
completed this
week.

Offices open for lab work

and taking Assessments

Classroom Event
State Portion
for Sessions 11
and 12

Email students
about lab work
and open lab
times

Offices open for

lab work and
taking
Assessments

Week 7

Sessions 13
and 14
completed this
week.

Classroom Event
State Portion
for Sessions 13
and 14

Email students
about lab work
and open lab
times

Offices open for

lab work and
taking
Assessments

Week 8

Sessions 15
and Course
Review
completed this
week.

Offices open for lab work

and taking Assessments

Classroom Event
State Portion
for Sessions 15
and Course
Review

Email students
about lab work
and open lab
times

Offices open for

lab work and
taking
Assessments

Week 9

Sessions 17
and 18
completed this
week.

Offices open for lab work

and taking Assessments

Classroom Event
State Portion
for Sessions 17
and 18

Email students
about lab work
and open lab
times

Offices open for

lab work and
taking
Assessments

Week 10

Sessions 19
and 20
completed this

Classroom Event
State Portion
for Sessions 19

Email students
about lab work
and open lab

Offices open for

lab work and
taking

7/26/2012

38

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

week.

and 20

times

Assessments

Week 11

Sessions 21
and 22
completed this
week.

Classroom Event
State Portion
for Sessions 19
and 20

Email students
about lab work
and open lab
times

Offices open for

lab work and
taking
Assessments

Week 12

Sessions 23
and 24
completed this
week.

Classroom Event
State Portion
for Sessions 21
and 22

Email students
about lab work
and open lab
times

Offices open for

lab work and
taking
Assessments

Week 13

Course
Review and
Assessment
completed this
week.

Celebration!

7/26/2012

Offices open for

lab work

39