ACCT 487 / 587: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Iowa State University

Spring 2015
Instructor: Michael Bootsma, JD, CPA
Phone: 515-294-8337
Email: mbootsma@iastate.edu
Office Hours: MWF 10:00a.m. to 10:50a.m.
TA: Elizabeth Bruns
Email: elbruns@iastate.edu
Office Hours: Monday 4p.m. - 5p.m & Thursday 3p.m. 5p.m.

Class Meeting Times: We meet on Tuesday nights from 6:10pm to 8:00pm for the first five
weeks. The classes will serve as a lab session. Everyone will be required to watch a
video before the night of class. The video will cover the content for the current week.
Students who cannot attend Tuesday night classes are required to watch videos and
prepare the practice returns on their own time.
Lab Meeting Times: See Access Plus as you signed up for a lab which meets on either Monday
night, Tuesday night or Wednesday afternoon. Once the first five weeks are complete, we
will only meet during lab times. For the first five weeks we just meet on Tuesday night
for class. Those who cannot make class, should watch the videos of class.
*Please note, the first few weeks of preparing tax returns might result in extended lab
times of up to 3 & hours so dont make arrangements for group meetings or social
outings for immediately after lab session.
Class prerequisites: ACCT 285 or the equivalent (recommend ACCT 485 concurrently)
Course Objectives
** Learn the basics of US Individual taxation
** Learn how to prepare simple federal and state individual returns using TaxWise software
** Be able to assist taxpayers in the preparation of simple federal and state individual returns
Course Expectations and Grading
Course grades are based on training and volunteer hours. Graduate students seeking graduate
credit must register for ACCT 587 and write a short (2-3 page) paper on a tax topic. You must
meet minimum standards in training and hours to obtain a passing grade (C) in the course.
Minimum standards are as follows:
Training: See Below
Volunteer hours: See Below

You may earn additional course points by completing activities beyond the minimum standards.
Details are on the next page. Grades will be assigned as follows:
Grade

Points Earned
(Undergraduate)
140 - 159
160 - 179
180 or more

C
B
A

Points Earned
(Graduate)
215 - 244
245 - 274
275 or more

Activities and Points Earned

Training
Activity
Complete

Points

Lab Hours
Activity

Point
s

65

8 sessions assisting taxpayers

80

85

9 sessions assisting taxpayers

100

IRS ethics training,

2 IRS Link and Learn
Modules: 1) Basic, 2) Foreign
student, 3) HSA
ISU Affordable Care Act quiz*
ISU Vita state tax quiz*
Required training above plus
the Advanced Link and Learn
Module

All of the above plus the

Military Link and Learn
module

(There are only 8 weeks of

lab so students need to
volunteer on an additional
time)
100

IRS ethics training is worth 5 points, the basic test is worth 20 points, Foreign Student test is worth 10 points, HSA
is worth 10 points, Affordable Care Act quiz is worth 10 points, State Tax Quiz 10 points.

Training: Training items must be submitted on time (see due dates below). There is a one point
deduction for each day late on the IRS ethics training; two point deduction for each day other
items are late.
Class Sessions: Attending in person is best, but you have the option of viewing class videos if
you have a conflict. You will receive a link to view the videos before each class.
Papers (ACCT 587 only): Write a short (2-3 page) paper on a timely tax topic. I will help you
find a topic if needed. Graded on a scale of C = 70, B = 80, A = 90 points. More information
will be available at a later time and upon request.
Volunteer Hour Attendance Policy: It is assumed that you will be at all lab sessions unless
excused--just like a regular job. You must notify Michael Bootsma or Libby Bruns at least 48

hours in advance if you are going to miss a lab session for a non-emergency reason. For
emergency reasons (illness, etc.), please notify either Michael Bootsma or Libby Bruns as soon
as possible. Missed hours can be made up by working extra hours in a subsequent week. There
will be a 10 point deduction for unexcused absences.
BAP members: Any sessions worked over 8 will count as service hours. Note that hours count
either for this class or toward service pointsyou may not count them for both.
Weather Policy: The lab will be open (or closed) depending on whether Iowa State is open
(closed). You will receive attendance credit if Iowa State closes on a day you are assigned to
work. But, if you live outside Ames, there may be times when we are open, but it still is not safe
to travel. So, if you are unable to work a session due to weather conditions when Iowa State is
open, it counts as an excused absence and you will be able to make up the session.
Course Schedule
Date
Topic
Jan. 13

Introduction to VITA and TaxWise and

Basics of Federal Income Tax

Jan. 20

Federal Tax Overview, Additional

TaxWise Training, Education Issues

Jan. 27

Foreign Student Returns

Feb. 3

State Taxes

Feb. 10

Advanced Return Topics Including

Affordable Care Act, Site Procedures,
Review Process

Feb. 16

Start Preparing Tax Returns During Your

Scheduled Lab Session This Week

March 16-20

Spring Break No Vita Labs Held

*This class ends on April 15 as the federal tax filing season comes to an end. We will have a
social outing sometime after April 15 to celebrate our accomplishments.
Due Dates
Item

Due Date and Time

Test Closes

IRS Ethics Training Test

Jan. 20 at 11 p.m.

Jan. 27 at 11 p.m.

IRS Basic Test & HSA Test

Jan. 27 at 11 p.m.

Feb. 3 at 11 p.m.

IRS Foreign Student Test

Feb. 3 at 11 p.m.

Feb. 10 at 11 p.m.

Iowa State Taxes Test

Feb. 10 at 11 p.m.

Feb 17 at 11 p.m.

Affordable Care Act Test

Feb. 17 at 11 p.m.

Mar. 3 at 11 p.m.

IRS Advanced Test

Military Exam

Mar. 3 at 11 p.m.
Mar. 10 at 11p.m.

Mar. 10 at 11 p.m.
Mar. 17 at 11p.m.

Graduate paper is due on April 8 at 11pm. Make sure you bring a hard copy of your paper.

Tests are due on Tuesdays.

All training must be done by 11 p.m. March 17.
Submitting Assignments
IRS Ethics training: Download a copy of your certificate and your volunteer agreement. Submit
through Blackboard
Link and Learn tests: Download a copy of your certificate. Submit through Blackboard
State test and ACA tests: Take these online through Blackboard
Important Web Sites: See Blackboard.