Curated OER
Understanding Tax: Your Role as a Tax Payer
Every adult should know that it is their responsibility to help fund public goods and services by paying taxes. Help young people get a handle on the history, evolution, purposes for, and reasons why they should pay taxes too.
Internal Revenue Service
Irs: Self Employment Income and the Self Employment Tax Lesson Plan
This lesson plan will help students understand self-employment income and the self-employment tax.
Internal Revenue Service
Irs: Refund, Amount Due, and Recordkeeping
This lesson plan will help students understand refunds, amounts due, and recordkeeping requirements.
Internal Revenue Service
Irs: Electronic Tax Return Preparation and Transmission
This lesson plan will help students understand the electronic preparation and transmission of tax returns.
Internal Revenue Service
Irs: Why Pay Taxes? Lesson Plan
This lesson will help learners understand the basic rationale, nature, and consequences of taxes.
Internal Revenue Service
Irs: The Taxpayer's Responsibilities Lesson Plan
This lesson plan will help students understand that they have basic responsibilities as taxpayers.
Internal Revenue Service
Irs: Evolution of Taxation in the Constitution Lesson Plan
This lesson plan will give learners an overview of the role and purpose of taxes in American history.
Internal Revenue Service
Irs: Progressive Taxes Lesson Plan
This lesson plan will help students understand that progressive taxes can have different effects on different income groups.
Internal Revenue Service
Irs: Regressive Taxes Lesson Plan
This lesson plan will help learners understand that regressive taxes can have different effects on different income groups.
Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Hundreds of questions about taxes are answered here. FAQs are sorted by category, subcategory, and keyword.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Federal Taxation
Check out this interactive timeline documenting the history of federal taxation in the United States.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Tax Day (April 15, 1913)
How did this day come to be the national day for taxes being due? What is it for? To find out the answers to these and other questions, visit this site from the Library of Congress.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Calculating the Numbers in Your Paycheck
Students review a pay stub from a sample paycheck to understand the real-world effect of taxes and deductions on the amount of money they take home.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Understanding Taxes and Your Paycheck
Students analyze statements about taxes to better understand how taxes affect people's paychecks.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Investigating Taxes in Your Life
Students play a game to explore how tax revenues pay for various events and services they encounter in daily life.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Understanding Jobs, Teens, and Taxes
Students review Internal Revenue Service webpages and respond to questions to explore the relationship between working and taxes.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Becoming Familiar With Taxes
Students match tax types to definitions and then apply their knowledge to tax scenarios. Includes teaching guide and student handouts.
Independence Hall Association
American Government: Financing State and Local Government
Taxes are collected by federal, state, and local governments to pay for a wide variety of services. This article helps students understand where their tax money goes.
PBS
Pbs: Where Does Your Paycheck Go?
Using real copies of pay stubs, students will examine them to see where all the deductions go. An extensive teacher's guide can be downloaded - the lessons are also intended for other sections of this website.
Bankrate
Bankrate: Are Taxes Voluntary?
Provides a commentary on whether paying taxes is voluntary or required. Good information, especially for younger taxpayers. (2001)