Federal Reserve Bank
Income Taxes
Most adults dread April 15 — tax day! Tax preparation can be intimidating even for adults. Build confidence by leading individuals through the process and then give them a scenario to practice. The exercise uses tax vocabulary to give...
Curated OER
Module 13-Electronic Tax Return Preparation and Transmission
Students explain the electronic preparation and transmission of tax returns. They describe the ways to prepare and transmit tax returns and explain the benefits of electronic tax return preparation and transmission.
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.
Curated OER
Taxes in U.S. History: Tax Reform in the 1960s and 1980s
Students explain the content, purpose, and impact of the Tax Reform Acts of 1969 and 1986.
Curated OER
Churches and Taxes
Churches have been tax-exempt since the founding of America, but should they be? Pupils ponder the question as they browse the website in preparation for a class debate or discussion. They research the history of tax-exemption for...
Curated OER
Taxes
Fourth graders read Stone Fax and explore earning money, saving, credit and taxes. In this taxes lesson, 4th graders complete a worksheet to develop understanding of paying off debts, keeping a checkbook, calculating sales tax and...
Curated OER
Taxes in U.S. History: The Social Security Act of 1935
Students explain the history of the Social Security Act and the FICA tax. They describe what Social Security is and whom it is intended to help. They explain the purpose of the FICA tax.
Federal Reserve Bank
Would Increasing the Minimum Wage Reduce Poverty?
Here is a fantastic and relevant question to discuss with your class members. Using detailed reading material and a related activity, your learners will learn about labor markets, equilibrium wages, price floors, and...
Curated OER
How Taxing are Taxes?
Learners explore the ways that taxes are levied based on taxable income. They analyze how a new series of tax cuts might affect people of different income levels and their tax rates.
Curated OER
Fairness in Taxes
Students identify and describe two criterion of tax fairness: benefits received and the ability to pay and distinguish between wealth and income as measures of ability to pay.
Curated OER
Your Role as a Taxpayer: Why Pay Taxes?
Students evaluate the basic rationale, nature, and consequences fo taxes. They describe why governments need taxes as revenue to provide goods and servicesin this series of activities.
Curated OER
Module 12-Self-Employment Income and the Self-Employment Tax
Students explain self-employment income and the self-employment tax. They distinguish between an employee and an independent contractor and explain how to compute and report self-employment profit.
Curated OER
Taxes
Fourth graders explore the concept of taxes and gather relevant information to become a tax 'expert. In this taxes lesson, 4th graders work in teams to find information regarding different areas in taxes. Students work together to...
The New York Times
Understanding the Mathematics of the Fiscal Cliff
What exactly is the fiscal cliff? What are the effects of changing income tax rates and payroll tax rates? Your learners will begin by reading news articles and examining graphs illustrating the "Bush tax cuts" of 2001 and 2003. They...
Council for Economic Education
You Can BANK on This! (Part 2)
This is part two in a four-part instructional activity on banking and personal finance. In this instructional activity, learners analyze whether or not they have made a good purchase, then discuss how to make an informed decision about a...
Curated OER
Government Goods and Services
Fifth graders investigate the connection between taxes and government services. In this economics lesson, 5th graders discuss the process and benefits of paying sales and income taxes. Using calculators, students compute the...
Federal Reserve Bank
U.S. Income Inequality: It's Not So Bad
What is the difference between a flat tax, progressive tax, tax deduction and transfer payments? Pupils examine the ability-to-pay principle of taxation through discussion, problem solving, and a variety of worksheets on topics from US...
Council for Economic Education
New Sense, Inc. vs. Fish 'Till U Drop or Coase Vs. Pigou
Who is responsible for protecting the environment, and who should pay when it is damaged? The role of government and private industry is complicated. A role-play simulation prompts individuals to decide how to protect a fictitious town...
Curated OER
Good News and Bad News: Income and Taxes
Students examine Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, citing particular line items that are pertinent to an artist acting as an entrepreneur. They explore various sources of income and the importance of keeping accurate income records.
Curated OER
Public Choice Theory and The Economics of Taxation
Let your learners know how our economy works, what taxation is, and how Public Choice Theory affects the economics of taxation. This is a comprehensive and well defined presentation that includes links to additional information provided...
Council for Economic Education
Fall of Rome
What led to the fall of Rome? Scholars have debated the question since the end of the great empire. Young historians consider the same question through an economic lens using an engaging lesson that involves a hands-on evaluation of the...
Curated OER
Taxes: Where Does Your Money Go?
Learners study taxes and the role that they place in our lives. In this economic lesson, students explore the reality of taxes, how they work, why we pay them, where the money goes and how to make the most of the money you pay into taxes...
Pulitzer Center
The Paradise Papers: A Lesson in Investigative Journalism
The Paradise Papers, a year-long research project from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism (ICIJ) exposed how political leaders, business people, and wealthy individuals used offshore entities to avoid taxes and hide...
Curated OER
Limiting Trade
Read a narrative describing various types of trade restrictions, and then engage in a debate about a new tariff. Critical thinkers will evaluate arguments to determine who benefits and who is hurt by the new tariff. Consider assigning...