IRS Web Site Helps Students
Understand U.S. Tax System

The Internal Revenue Service today announced a new educational site for high school and other students on its Web site at IRS.gov. Called “Understanding Taxes,” this Internet-based, interactive program about taxation replaces print materials previously provided to teachers each year by the IRS. The new program offers teachers more flexibility in a modern format.

The new Web site combines three IRS educational kits into a single resource center. Readers can find lessons on the nation´s history of taxation, tax return preparation for high school classes and the economics of taxes. All lessons are correlated to both national and state educational standards and curriculum areas.

To view the new Web site, go to IRS.gov, then click on “Individuals,” then “Students,” then “Understanding Taxes” or go directly to www.irs.gov/app/understandingTaxes/index.jsp.

“Understanding Taxes” is divided into a student section and an educator section. Tutorials guide students of taxes through the basics of tax preparation and introduce them to the concept of filing their tax returns electronically. The student home page offers links to student lessons, word puzzles, tax trivia questions, story problems and examples of how and why taxes affect and influence our daily lives. Tax filing simulations deliver real-life applications for today´s students.

The teacher home page includes detailed lesson plans along with numerous interactive student activities, student assessments and presentations.

Tax trivia and “VITA e 3” (a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program emphasizing electronic filing for schools) are found on both the student and the teacher Web pages. “TAX Interactive,” or “TAXi,” a program developed with the American Bar Association´s Section of Taxation, is also found on both the student and teacher Web pages.

The site can be used for traditional classroom, self-study or home-schooling use. It can even be used by students without computer access as long as the teacher has computer access.

The site conforms to the accessibility requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. In cases where student activities require the user to use drag-n-drop capabilities, the sight-impaired user has the same activity in an appropriate format.

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