This three-hour course concentrates on federal filing status and related concerns. Included in this modern and up-to-date course are topics that concern tax preparers, such as the five filing statuses, selecting a filing status, related sections of the United States Code, different types of returns (joint, single, married) and the relief of joint responsibility. Continuing, the course dives into equitable relief including special circumstances, the factors for determining whether relief will be granted, Form 8857, petitioning the tax court, community property laws, death of a spouse, refunds, alien and joint returns, dual status, and much more. Specifically, the course explores:
- Filing statuses, the five filing statuses, selecting a filing status, married, unmarried, divorce and anullment, Section 7703/Title 26 of the U.S. Code ascribed to whether someone is married or not and also defines “surviving spouse;”
- Married filling jointly is thoroughly discussed, including Section 6013 of Title 26 U.S. Code governing joint tax returns, joint responsibility and relief thereof, actual knowledge and the reason to know, innocent spouse relief, separation of liability, equitable relief concepts and rules, special circumstance considerations, and factors that determine whether to grant relief, Form 8857 (Request for Innocent Spouse Relief) is discussed and when it needs to be filed, and refunds;
- Death of a spouse and surrounding circumstances, injury and disease and other concerns, aliens and joint returns, suspending and ending the choice, resident and non-resident status tests (Green Card and Substantial Presence), days of presence, exempt individuals, related definitions and concepts;
- Dual status when married filing jointly, first year of residency, starting date of residency and the substantial presence test, IRS required statement, preceding year, first-year choice and its required statement, choosing resident alien status, last year of residency, De Minimis presence, early residency termination date, residency during the next year and its IRS statement, and the effect of tax treaties;
- Married filing separately, including the rules of filing a separate return, special rules, income concerns, IRAs, rental losses, community property, domicile, income, deductions, and credits, child tax credit and credit for other dependents, self-employment tax, withholdings and estimated tax payments, overpayments, when community property laws are disregarded, relief from tax liability, end of community, converting a return from separate to joint or vice-versa;
- Filing as head of household and qualified surviving spouse. This part of the course details head of household, including unmarried status, alien spouses, keeping up a home, qualifying persons and relatives, special rules, fling as a qualifying surviving spouse with a dependent child, eligibility, births, deaths, and kidnapping;
- There are numerous examples and illustrations throughout the course to assist in comprehension and application.
- The student must pass a 21-question multiple-choice exam to receive certification for the course.
Course Format: Text
Credit Type: Federal Tax Law Topic
Course ID(s): UUBXU-T-00094-26-S
Approved By: Internal Revenue Service
