Each year since 1940 the University of Illinois Extension has sponsored Farm Income Tax Schools. In 2000, approximately 6,000 enrollees at these schools reported they prepared over 1.7 million federal returns, and of these, approximately 141,000 were farm returns. Over half of the registrants reported they attend these schools because there is no other place where they can obtain information and instructions specifically geared toward the preparation of farm tax returns. In 2001, five summer seminars will be added to the schedule based upon requests from participants in 2000.
Participants are now able to register on-line.
Instructors for the two-day schools include several Certified Public Accountants as well as experts from the Illinois District of the Internal Revenue Service and the University of Illinois. Instruction includes content related to preparation of both federal farm and non-farm returns. The Farm Income Tax School is qualified to provide 16 hours of CPE credit for public accountants, enrolled agents, and other associations. Because of the technical nature of this information, these schools are designed for experienced income tax practitioners who assist taxpayers in preparing and filing income tax returns. A specially prepared workbook is provided to participants of these schools.