Surgent Accounting & Financial Education has launched "Max the Tax", the first series of a new "Surgent Interactive" line of short, game-based online courses for accounting, tax and financial professionals.In “Max the Tax”, the learner plays the role of an Internal Revenue Service agent interviewing various taxpayers and adjusting tax returns based on their answers. They receive scores based on the quality of the interviews and adjustments made.
The "Max the Tax" course offers one credit for the $29 purchase price. A one-credit "Max the Tax" course is $29. Customers have a year from the purchase to take the course and earn credit. As more courses are added, Surgent will introduce a subscription model. Future games include those designed for auditing, ethics and emerging technologies.
The four stages present tasks that must be completed before users advance. Learners are asked to do the following
1) Investigate and review information about the virtual client;
2) Interview the client to validate claims and ascertain pertinent information;
3) Use information gathered to complete task, from completing a tax form to performing an inventory count; and
4) Submit their work for evaluation. After the game is completed, learners are given a final exam based on the content in order to earn continuing education credits.
The course series covers common 1040 items, schedule C, and common deductions and includes timely topics such as taxation of cryptocurrency mining, the CARES Act, ARPA unemployment compensation exclusion, home office deduction and alimony payments.
