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Tax time and benefits: the slides.
A 13-slide deck with speaker notes, for a 60-minute session. Present it from this page, or print it to PDF with one slide per page. The run sheet says when to show each slide.
While presenting: → or Space next, ← back, Home and End, S speaker notes, F full screen, Esc to stop.
Moraph for Good · Fluent
Tax time and benefits
A Fluent session from Moraph for Good
A free session kit · moraph.org/commons/sessions/fluent/tax-time-and-benefits
Moraph for Good · Fluent · Tax time and benefits1 / 13
Speaker notes
Welcome people. Say who you are, and that this is general information about how tax time works, not help with anyone’s own return.
How this works
Ground rules for today
- Nobody shares what they earn or receive
- No one’s return gets prepared or checked here
- General information, not advice about your situation
- Nothing to sell, no companies named
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Speaker notes
Make it clear early that you won’t look at anyone’s papers. People sometimes bring them; thank them and point to free help on the handout.
The big idea
For many households, filing is how money they are owed reaches them.
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Speaker notes
Pause here. Many people think tax time is only about paying. For lower incomes it is often the opposite.
Why file
Reasons to file, even on a low income
- Tax taken from your pay may be refunded
- Some credits are only paid if you file
- Some benefits use your tax information
- A missing return can delay payments
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Speaker notes
These apply in some countries more than others. The country handout says how it works where you are.
What they already know
The tax office often has your figures
- Employers report pay and tax taken
- Banks may report interest
- Some countries pre-fill your return
- If your return doesn’t match, expect a letter
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Speaker notes
This is reassuring for people who worry about getting it wrong, and a reason to report all income.
Free help
Free help, where it exists
- Volunteer tax clinics for simpler returns
- Free online filing from the tax authority or its partners
- The tax authority’s own phone and online help
- Find it through the official site, not search adverts
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Speaker notes
Not every country has all of these. Turn to the country block now and say what exists where you are teaching.
Paid preparers
If you pay someone
- Ask the full price before they start
- Be wary of fees taken as a share of your refund
- Think twice about a loan against your refund
- Never sign a blank or wrong return: you are responsible for it
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Speaker notes
A refund loan is a loan, with a cost. Ask the three borrowing questions: rate including fees, total cost, and what happens if the refund is smaller or late.
Activity
Build a tax-time folder
- Sort the cards into four piles
- Keep for tax, keep for benefits, keep for both, be suspicious
- Agree a reason for each card
- Then tick your own checklist on the worksheet
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Speaker notes
Eight minutes to sort, two to tick the checklist, five to debrief. Walk around and listen for the two suspicious cards.
Often missed
Support people miss
- Credits for working people on lower incomes
- Payments for families with children
- Allowances that can be shared with a partner
- Help with housing, energy or other costs
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Speaker notes
Names and rules differ by country, so keep this general and use the country handout. Official benefit checkers, where they exist, are free.
Scams
Tax and benefit scams
- Threats of arrest or deportation over tax
- Payment demanded by gift card, crypto or payment app
- A refund offered by text with a link
- A fee to “release” your refund or benefit
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Speaker notes
Scams increase around tax time. The country handout says how the tax authority does and doesn’t contact people.
The habit
Don’t use their link or number. Go to the official site yourself.
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Speaker notes
Sign in to your account directly, or call the number on the official website. If it was real, it will be waiting there.
Records
What to keep, and where
- Copies of every return you file
- Income statements, and receipts for anything you claim
- Every letter from the tax office or benefit office
- Keep them for years, safely: check your country’s rule
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Speaker notes
Use the country block for how long. A folder, a box or a scanned copy all work; what matters is being able to find it when asked.
Thank you
Questions?
- Your handout lists official, free help where you live
- File, even if you think you’re owed nothing
- Go to the official source before you pay anyone
This kit, the worksheet and the handouts: moraph.org/commons/sessions/fluent/tax-time-and-benefits
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Speaker notes
Take questions. Ask everyone to write the questions they want to take to free help on the worksheet before they leave.