February 2021 Newsletter

February 2021 - Newsletter

Tax Season is Here

Michigan Jump$tart Coalition is here to help you navigate and expand your skills around taxes. We know this can be a dry and tricky topic with all the changes that come in the Tax Code.

If you haven't heard, the IRS has made some changes with the start date for processing tax returns. You can start filing them starting at the beginning of February, but processing of your tax returns will not start until February 12, 2021. This will delay those early birds receiving your tax refunds.

This newsletter is here to help you in your classrooms with tax specific content that you can implement along with professional development opportunities to broaden your tax skills. We also wanted to share those tax preparation software that can help you prepare your taxes for FREE!

Tax Preparation Options

In The IRS has created free opportunities for those individuals and families that quality. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help from IRS-certified volunteers. VITA services are available to people who earn $57,000 per year or less for 2020. You can locate a site near you by clicking here. Because of the pandemic, a lot of the on-site offerings may not be available. Many of the VITA sites have gone virtual to help you file your taxes. You can find more in-person tax help by calling 2-1-1, a free service that connects people in Michigan to community resources through the local United Way.

Other free, secure options are available. Here are a list of options that you can check out:

You can learn more about selecting each of these programs here.

It's also important to be prepared when you are filing your taxes. Here is a checklist of all the supporting documents you would need to have.

Finally, we know this can feel overwhelming to file your own taxes or doing the research around any of these programs. The College Investor YouTube Channel has created a playlist that breaks down each of the tax preparation software in short videos to help you learn the pros/cons of each.

FAFSA Workshops

During the month of February, MI Student Aid is putting on virtual webinars to help students and families looking for help paying for college.

Each Tuesday & Thursday evening from 6:30 - 8:00 PM EST, you can register for a Virtual College Financial Aid. Participants will be able to gather information on the following financial aid topics:

FAFSA application information
Federal financial aid programs
State financial aid programs
Scholarship searching
MiSSG Student Portal Accounts

All sessions are open to the public and participants are encouraged to sign up for one session only due to limited space.

Teachers! We Want to Hear From YOU

The Michigan Jump$tart Coalition wants to hear your “money stories” that you have been facing in and out of the classroom during this very difficult school year. Understanding those stories and resources you have been using that resonate with your students can help spread them to others.

You can share those stories by sending us a note at info.mijumpstart@gmail.com. For those that share, you will be entered into a monthly drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card.

Professional Development Opportunities

We are building a Calendar of professional development opportunities and other events. Please let us know if you have information to add. Below you will find several opportunities throughout the month of February.

Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF) has many virtual opportunities. Here is the full list.

Here are a few specific opportunities:

February 08, 2021 at 6pm EST - Turbo Tax for Beginners
February 08, 2021 at 7pm EST - Turbo Tax Advanced
Tax Specific Content that are course or semester long. Register here.

Registration is now open for NGPF Certification Cohort in Personal Finance. This 5-week, 9 hour courses to become a certified personal finance content starts February 9th and runs through March 11, 2021. Content areas include Behavioral Finance, Credit, Investing, Taxes, and more. Click here to learn more and register.

Michigan Council on Economic Education (MCEE) has different professional development opportunities on its event calendar.

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension has financial literacy courses on its event calendar.

Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) has an opportunity on February 15th at 7pm EST focused on Empowering Mathematic Educators online. You can register for the event here.

Virtual FinCamp

Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF) has partnered with Michigan Council on Economic Education (MCEE) to provide tailored Virtual Professional Development sessions and a Virtual FinCamp to Michigan educators.

5 NGPF Resources in 50 is February 11th from 4-5pm EST.

Click here to register for this professional development.

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