A Monumental New Approach to Teaching Tax

To train tomorrow’s tax preparers to handle the complex United States tax law and the trillions in taxes that will be paid each year, Fundamentals of Taxation’s author team has devised four primary teaching advantages:

First, they organized the text to closely follow IRS tax forms. Students are introduced to standard IRS forms early and their use is reinforced throughout the text. Actual tax forms are incorporated throughout the text, giving students the opportunity to learn how to work with clients to obtain the information they will need to fill out tax forms, while understanding the principles behind tax law.

Second, proper reporting of tax issues is clearly illustrated. A tax issue is presented, law requirements are discussed, proper tax form placement is illustrated, and the completed form is shown in the text. By effectively leading the student through each issue, tax form preparation is presented as a careful process that balances legal knowledge with practical experience using tax forms.

Third, TaxACT software package is incorporated into the text and examples. Students are instructed how to use the software to complete returns using sample “taxpayers” that flow through the book from chapter to chapter. Importantly, the textbook allows instructor flexibility. You can choose to rely heavily on the software, you can incorporate the software only after you cover the law and the reporting, or you can de-emphasize the software component. This flexible approach allows you to structure your taxation course the way you want to!

Fourth, the text is supplemented with citations of relevant tax authority such as the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations, Revenue Rulings, Revenue Procedures, and court cases. These citations are almost always provided in footnotes. Thus, you can easily use, or not use, the footnote material with little student confusion.