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2‑9‑23.  National Disability Institute.  ABLE Tax Time Tips 
Presenters:  Miranda Kennedy, Laurie Schaller, Don Dill 

>>   Hello everyone and thank you for being with us today at the ABLE National Resource Center for our ABLE Tax Time Tips webinar.  
My name is Miranda Kennedy.  I'm Director of the ABLE National Resource Center and we are funded through grants from Prudential and Wells Fargo.  
For those of you who may be joining us for the first time, a quick background on who we are here at the ABLE National Resource Center, we are the leading comprehensive source of objective, independent information about federal and state related ABLE programs and activities, including guidance on tax advantaged 529A ABLE savings accounts.  Such as the information and guidance you'll be receiving here today.  
It is our mission to educate, promote and support the positive impact that ABLE can make on the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities and their families.  
We're going to go through just a few webinar logistics for those of you who are joining us on Zoom.  We know there are others who are joining us via Facebook Live stream.  We welcome you here.  For those of you who are joining us on our webinar platform, the audio for today's meeting can be accessed using computer audio or by calling in by phone.  If you select computer audio please make sure your speakers are turned on or your headphones are plugged in.  If you do not have sound capabilities hopefully you're reading this slide on your computer.  If you prefer to listen by phone, you can dial 1‑929‑205‑6099.  And the meeting code is 83911643224.  
If you have any technical difficulties during the webinar, you can use the chat box to send a message to the NDI host or you can email info@ablenrc.org with the subject line, webinar help.  
Please also note that this webinar is being recorded and the materials will be placed on the ABLE National Resource Center website, long with all of our other ABLE webinars, so that you can access that on demand.  
We do have captioning and ASL interpretation today.  The captions can be found by clicking on the closed captions icon in your Zoom controls at the bottom of the screen.  And you can also see our ASL interpreters who have joined you.  If you do not see the captions after clicking the button or the ASL interpreters on the screen, please just alert the host using the chat box.  
In terms of submitting questions, we do hope that today's presentation will answer so many of your questions.  It is rich with information and resources that are hyperlinked and that you can access when we have posted this presentation.  But if you do not get your answers to those questions in the presentation itself, you can submit those in the post event survey and include your email address and we'll get back to you.  You can also email us at info@ablenrc.org.  So I encourage you to keep those options in mind and as you pay attention to the presentation today, we expect that many of your questions will be answered.  
You can also use the Q&A box to submit questions during the webinar, but we ask that you don't use the chat box tor that.  
And as always, we invite you to explore the ABLE National Resource Center website for answers to your questions, and additional information within our on demand webinars, resources, toolkits, decision guides and newsletters.  And that can be found at ablencr.org.  
So, for just some quick introductions in an overview, again my name is MIranda Kennedy and I'm Director of the ABLE National Resource Center and I'm happy to be here as your Facilitator today.  I am joined by two excellent presenters on ABLE topic on ABLE Tax Time Tips.  Those presenters are Don Dill who is an IRS senior tax analyst with their SPEC headquarters.  Just so you know what SPEC is, it stands for stakeholder partnerships education and communication.  And that is the outreach and education arm of the wage and investment division of the IRS.  
We also have with us Laurie Schaller, who is a Manager of Financial Empowerment at National Disability Institute.  She's a national ABLE subject matter expert and community work incentive counselor.  So, we're in good hands today with the information from Don and Laurie.  
Just to provide a quick overview.  The Stephen Beck Junior Achieving a Better Life Experience or ABLE Act proposed regulations were passed by Congress in 2014 and the current regulations were published November 19, 2020.  Able accounts fall under 529A the internal revenue service IRS tax code.  In today's webinar you'll here how you can increase your ABLE savings through filing a federal tax return to qualify for tax incentives.  
When this results in a refund, you can choose to deposit directly your refund into your ABLE account.  You can hear how ABLE account owners like yourself have maximized their ABLE savings through tax deductions and credits and how you can do the same.  
Our objectives for today are to provide you with ABLE National Resource Center resources that are basic and beyond.  As well as Don and Laurie will be going through and reviewing current and up coming IRS tax information related to ABLE.  You'll learn, we will be also covering who should file income taxes.  We'll be sharing tax incentives, credits, deductions and refunds.  And spotlighting ABLE and tax scenarios and resources for filing towards the end; as well as sharing some best practices for ABLE account savings in 2023.  
We just want to share quickly some ABLE National Resource Center resources for you.  We have our Decision Guide Services.  And our ABLE decision guides are a series of step‑by‑step guides on key ABLE topics that provide multiple pathways to outcomes.  We develop these with ABLE ambassadors and advisors who are ABLE account owners and family members as well as service providers.  And these guides were really meant to help all of you in our audience to help increase your ABLE understanding and assist you in effective decision making.  And you can see a list of topics and those are all hyperlinked of ABLE decision guides that we have developed on a range of topics; including our very latest one, understanding ABLE accounts, special needs trusts and pooled trusts which was just published a few weeks ago and we did in collaboration with the special needs a aligns.  But we encourage you to check out all those decision guides.  
With that I'm actually going to hand it off to Don Dill with the IRS to talk about Secure Act 2.0, fiscal year 2023 omnibus spending bill and IRS changes.  So Don, the floor is yours.
>>   Miranda.  Thank you so much.  First I want to thank the ABLE National Resource Center for putting this presentation on.  I want to thank each and every one of you for participating.  I know this is a busy time of the year.  We thank you for joining us and again I wanted to thank the national ABLE Resource Center for the great information that's going to be shared with you.  So my privilege to be here today.  
And as Laurie mentioned, we do want to talk to you about some new legislation that passed late December, signed early January, called the Secure Act 2.0.  And this legislation really has a number provisions that are going to take place over the next few years.  And over the next couple slides we wanted to highlight a few of those.  
First we want to talk about the 529 plan roll overs to Roth IRA when they meet certain rules.  This will be a great option if individual has medical improvement and is no longer disabled, and therefore can no longer contribute to his or her ABLE account and thus will be able to move it over to a Roth IRA.  
Next I want to talk about a very significant change in here, the ABLE Age Adjustment Act.  And this is so important, we'll take you to the next slide and talk a little more in depth about this part of the legislation.  
So, on the next slide, we talk here about this ABLE age adjustment which we note it was passed in this bipartisan bill in late December.  And the key element here is the ABLE eligibility has been expanded to include people who have a disability that began before the age of 46.  Currently, that age is 26.  So this is a significant improvement and we're all thrilled about it.  
Now, this new age will not go into effect until January 1 of 20 26 but we estimate that over six million people with disabilities including one million Veterans will have the opportunity to open, save and invest funds in their own ABLE accounts as this age adjustment takes place in 20 26.  
Moving onto the next, the next part of the Secure Act 2, we noted there is new credits for employer contributions.  Now, this one is for small business with 50 or fewer employers and they will be able to receive a new tax credit based on a percentage of their employer contributions up to $1,000 per employee.  
So this credit which caps as we mentioned at $1,000 per employee phases down gradually over five years and is subject to further reduction with employers with employees in the range of 50 to 100.  I know most of you probably joined us before.  Tax law is not the most simple thing, and so we don't want to get too far into the weeds, but as you see, most of these provisions have future dates and we'll get you more, but we wanted to at least make you aware of these as we move forward as you can start thinking about additional ways to help your employees and to help yourself as ABLE account owners.  
So, moving onto the next slide.  A big one that I'm sure many have heard about was part of the Secure Act 2.0 increases the age for minimum required distributions.  And RMDs as they are called Required Minimum Distributions are when minimum amounts are required to be deducted from a retirement plan by account owners.  And generally that is, was at 70 1/2 prior to January 1 of 2020.  And now is raised currently to 72.  
But as you see there on your slide, beginning on January 1 of this year, 2023, the age for Required Minimum Distributions has increased to age 73.  And then further on in the bill on January 1 of 2 033 for certain individuals, the age of RMDs will increase to age 75.  And so these are significant changes for those who are reaching those retirement ages and allowing them to keep money in if they don't need it.  And obviously build more wealth long term.  
So, we'll go to the next slide.  
And I will turn it over to Laurie to give you a little bit more about current ABLE IRS guidelines.  
>>   Thank you, Don.  
So, what is an ABLE account?  And who is ABLE eligible?  An ABLE account is a section 529A tax advantage savings and investment account owned by the person who has a disability.  Who has either a Social Security number or a tax filing ID.  And that disability or blindness needed to have begun before age 26, and even if that person receives SSI or SSDI benefits before age 26, or the person can self‑certify that they have a written, signed disability certification from a qualifying physician, stating that their disability did begin before age 26.  
And just to share with you, allowable doctors who can sign off on that disability certification are a Doctor of Medicine or osteopathy, a Doctor of Dental surgery or dental medicine.  And for some purposes, a Doctor of Podiatry medicine, a Doctor of Optometry or a chiropractor.  
And then I just wanted to go on to the next slide.  
So, there are more than 45 ABLE plans available across the United States now.  There are in fact 49.  And if you are ABLE eligible, you can open one ABLE account in any state that has an ABLE program, that will accept people, including residents from outside their state.  
And to compare the different ABLE plans that you are eligible for, you can select one ABLE plan and you can select that from the ABLE NRC program comparison tool.  And we have three tools within that, (Audio cut out).  ABLE accounts.  
Next slide.  So, these comparison tools include important information about the availability of subaccounts and/or debit cards to help people to manage and access ABLE funds.  The tools mention properly titling of an account for a representative payee; for example or for a guardian who will help a person to manage their ABLE account.  
How funds can be used to pay for Qualified Disability Expenses, upon the death of the ABLE account owner.  It talks about increased contribution limits for those who work.  And some plans have increased their balance limits.  So the range is from 235,000 dollars up to $5 50,000 depending upon what ABLE plan a person selects.  
Next slide.  
Don, if you would like to cover the contribution limits for 2023.  
>>   I will, Laurie.  Thank you so much.  
And as you see there on the slide, it's always great, each year limits are generally increased based on inflation factors and so for 2023, the year that obviously started just last month, the new limit for ABLE contributions is $17,000 from all sources within this calendar year.  
But we also want to highlight that ABLE account owners who work and do not have contributions made to a retirement plan, such as a 401K that their employer might have set up.  For this tax year may also make additional contributions from their earnings, from their wages.  
This amount is limited to whichever is less, which would be the ABLE account owners employee's earnings or the amounts as we show here, $13,590 for those living in the Continental US.  $16,990 for individuals living in Alaska.  And then $15,6 30 for individuals living in Hawaii.  
Again, the important part I want to make sure everyone is aware of, the wonderful resources that ABLE National Resource Center has for these type of important decisions to make.  And I just want to highlight here the decision guide they have for finding the funds to save in an ABLE account.  So I really recommend that to you after this webinar.  
And then we'll go to the next slide.  And Miranda, I don't know if this is you or if this is me.  
>>   So, this is Laurie.  
>>   My apologies.  
>>   So regarding 529 college savings rollover option into an ABLE account.  So if a family wishes to roll over 529 college savings into an ABLE account that would need to be completed before January 1 of 2026.  And, there is no tax impact if the ABLE account owner is the designated beneficiary of the tuition account or is an eligible member of the family.  
And that rollover, we suggest that an individual contact both the ABLE plan and the 529 college savings plan to coordinate the rollover which must take place within 60 days of those funds being withdrawn from the college savings account and then deposited within the ABLE account.  
And you want to keep in mind that these rollovers are subject, the annual contribution limit when we add up April the sources of contributions into that ABLE account; that cannot exceed $17,000; unless that ABLE account owner of course is working.  Then they can contribute the extra funds from their employment earnings.  
Okay.  Next slide, Miranda.  
So, if you have both an ABLE account and 529 college savings account, you may wish to consider a rollover.  ABLE Qualified Disability Expenses allow for more expansive expenses, excuse me.  For more expansive ex expenses than permitted by the 529 college tuition programs.  And we'll talk about Qualified Disability Expenses a little later.  
Okay.  
>>   That you for that information, Laurie.  I would like to turn us over into our next section about who should file income taxes.  And of course I don't think there could be a more important topic at this time of the year.  The IRS has opened our E‑file system as of January 23rd, so the filing season is upon us and it's a critical piece that we wanted to make sure we really emphasize today on this webinar.  
So, filing a tax return is the only way to claim a tax credit or receive a tax refund for taxes already paid.  I hope that goes without saying, that the IRS is not really going to reach out to you, but in fact it is your responsibility to file.  
And so, we want you to check out one of the IRS online tools there on who should file taxes to help you decide.  But really what we wanted to emphasize today is that although in many, many environments, particularly within the disability community, there is often a myth that's perpetrated that says that individuals don't need to file and that they shouldn't file for different reasons.  
And what we want to talk to you about today a little bit is why we feel it's really critical for individuals to file each and every year regardless of whether they technically meet the requirement to have to file.  
And so, one of the reasons, a couple of the reasons we wanted to talk to you about it today is that it's important to file regardless of whether you neat the income limits because of these two things here.  SSI beneficiaries who work and file income taxes with FICA withholdings may qualify for disability, retirement and Medicare benefits in the future, based upon their work record that they report by filing a tax return.  
Additionally, SSDI and childhood disability beneficiaries may qualify for increased monthly payment amounts; again paved on the amounts they report through a tax return.  
And so, I want to jump to the next slide, and talk a little bit more.  That filing is critical, not only for those reasons, but as we will talk more about in the remainder of this webinar, is that by filing a tax return, receiving a refund, whether you are getting withholdings paid back or entitled to some of a credit, as we'll talk about in the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Child Tax Credit.  You could use these refunds to create a future economic impact, faster for I each individual.  
We also note that you can build your ABLE savings by depositing all or a portion of the refund into your ABLE account much and we'll talk to you how that can be done easily right on the face of a filed tax return.  
And of course, if you file and are due a refund, you could use that money to pay any back taxes that you might owe.  And this is of course is a way to make sure your credit is at its best and to make sure you can qualify for additional credits when needed.  
And so, I'll jump on to our next section, where we're going to talk to you a little bit more about some ABLE tax deductions, incentives, and refunds, in addition to also some other tax credits and payments that you might be entitled to.  
One that we want to talk to is more over the last couple years, particularly during the height of our COVID pandemic, that we all suffered through.  Is we wanted to talk to you about recovery rebate credits and economic impact payments.  And those were issued multiples during 2020 and 2021.  And what we want to make sure you're aware of, that people who did not receive those payments, what we would say they're missing those stimulus payments, can still file a tax return for those years and get those credits and economic impact payments they missed.  
We also note that if there were in those years, particularly in 2021 and 2022, expanded income tax credits and earned income tax dread it that others may still be eligible to.  And just as a general reminder that each individual has up to three years to file a tax return and claim any credits or refunds they were due.  So, for example, if somebody hasn't filed their 2020 tax return which was due April 15, 2021 they have until April 18, 2024 and receive the credits they're entitled to.  So please take a anyone to go to the recovery rebate link we have there to see if those and those you're serving are eligible.  
And in addition, we have there, those who did not work in 2022 who might have worked in 2021 and had the children in their household under the age of 18, they may be eligible for child tax credits and they can do that either by filing a return if haven't or by filing an amended return.  
One of the keys we were trying to highlight is in 2022, you did not have to have earned income in order to qualify for that Expanded Child Tax Credit.  So, we want to make sure everybody was aware of that.  Please take a look at that link for more information.  And just a note that this number, just to tell you how significant, was up to $3500 for children under the age of 5.  And $3,000 for children between ages 5 and 17.  
So, we'll go on to the next one and talk to you about another wonderful tax credit that are eligible for individuals who filed.  This is the child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.  So the child and Dependent Care Tax Credit is a credit that may help you for the care of eligible children and other dependents, or as we like to call them in the tax world, qualifying persons.  
There is generally an age requirement.  They generally have to be an eligible child under the age of 13, but as you note here, there is an age exception.  If the person, which could include spouse or another dependent is incapable of self care and lives with that taxpayer for more than one half a year, there is no age limit.  So very significant for persons with disabilities.  
This credit is calculated based on a taxpayer's income and percentage of expenses that they incur for the care of qualifying children, in order for them to work, look for work, or attend schools.  
So, you may claim these credits even if you paid for these work‑related expenses as a Qualified Disability Expenses from your ABLE account.  So, it's a wonderful opportunity and again we just want to make sure, if you're on this webinar today and haven't filed for a couple years, we really recommend you go back, take a look at your eligibility for some of these credits we've talked about and go back and file.  It's not too late.  
So, I will jump to the next slide, and just want to highlight again some wonderful information that's out there.  I hope you have, if you have not taken advantage of it yet, that you will.  
And that is a document the IRS has created it's called a publication information for people with disabilities.  And it has more information about qualifying for certain federal tax deductions, income exclusions and tax credits.  
Now, realize that we are talking, and I, as an IRS employee are talking about federal tax credits but there also maybe some wonderful state credits that individuals should take advantage of.  And they reduce these, these credits would reduce the income tax owed on a dollar for dollar basis.  And in many cases are what we call refundable which would mean they would result in a refund.  
So, these tax credits are meant to bring relief to taxpayers who are low to moderate income and are taking care of children who invest in education or save for retirement.  So again, we ask each and every one on this webinar to make sure that either you or those who you are serving have filed returns for the past couple years and have maximized the credits to which they're entitled.  
And so, I will go to the next slide, and we will talk about free tax filing services and options for those individuals that we are highlighting here.  And as I mentioned earlier, this tax filing season has begun.  It started in earnest on January 23rd.  The IRS is accepting and processing returns as we speak.  
I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that the, the best way to file is through an electronic means, what we call E‑file.  Paper returns are still acceptable, but it takes significant longer times to process and get your refund.  So, whenever somebody has the ability to, we recommend strongly that you E‑file.  
And we also wanted to highlight that there is time to still file amended returns for the past three years, up until January, or excuse me, until April of 2023 for the oldest year.  And again, as I mentioned earlier in one of my slides.  If this is a way if you failed to claim some stimulus credits or tax credits that he with talked about.  By filing an amended return, you can get those credits and deductions into which you are entitled.  
And just a reminder, this year our filing deadline is April 18th, 2023.  April 15th falls on a holiday in Washington, DC and therefore all of us gain a few extra days to file those tax returns.  
And there is an ability for individuals to file a request for an extension to file their tax return, that would give them until October 16th of 2023 to file, but I do have to put a gentle reminder.  The automatic extension is to file.  It's not to pay taxes.  So if you would owe taxes, you still need to pay those by April 18th and then you could file the tax return subsequently.  
I'll jump to the next slide and wanted to highlight to you about some wonderful opportunities that the IRS partners with local community organizations, hopefully in your community where you're serving or living today.  And these programs were meant to help individuals get assistance in preparing their tax returns.  
And as you see there on the slide, we generally say that the income limit is about $58,000 which is close to the earned income threshold, or if you're a person with disability, you're eligible for these free services.  And one of the things I wanted to highlight because I'm sure many of you are thinking, he's talking about something free, it must not be of high quality.  But our tax programs that we work with that I'm going to highlight have the highest quality ratings in the tax preparation arena.  And all of our volunteers that would work with you to have a tax return completed are certified and trained by the IRS.  
And so first I want to talk to you about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, or VITA.  And right there we have ways for you to find this VITA, or TCE site within your community.  There is a VITA locator tool on IRS.gov and there is also a phone number.  
I also wanted to highlight our secondary program, tax counseling for the elderly, or TCE programs.  And those are free tax preparation for people that are 60 and older primarily.  Although they will serve any site.  These sites are generally operated by our partners at AARP tax aid program.  And the reason we say for 60 and older.  These individuals who volunteer are trained in issues that are more relevant to taxpayer 60 and older, retirement related issues, for example.  
Our friends at AARP tax aid have their own locate tor on their website at AARP.org or there is a phone number there to call.  
And last but not least, we wanted to make you aware of a program called My Free Taxes, which is operated by partners of the IRS at United Way worldwide.  It's a free, what we call do it yourself type of program, where you get access to software.  If you're adjusted gross income is under $73,000.  And you can use that software to file a free electronic return.  In addition, My Free Taxes provides assistance through chat and email and phones.  So please take a look for information on My Free Taxes, if you're not able to action assess one of our VITA or TCE sites.  
So I'll move to the next slide.  And I wanted to highlight to you another opportunity.  That's called IRS free file, which is a collaboration between the internal revenue service and a number of software providers this year.  It's eight software providers that have provided access to their software.  Again for individuals to file their taxes for free.  And the income limit again is about $73,000 adjusted gross income.  
In addition, if you're really good at doing and don't need software, we also have available free‑file fillable forms that you can use to complete your tax return.  
An one highlight I want to make on this IRS free file, while it's a wonderful opportunity, individuals using it do need to make sure that the option they select provides them the ability to file their state tax returns, which is obviously important.  Each of the software offerings has a little bit of a different unique qualification, so please take a look at those to make sure you're picking the best option for the state in which you file.
So, I will go to the next slide.  And I believe, Laurie is this one back to you?  
>>   Yes.  Thank you so much, Don.  
So, ABLE Tax Time Tips for tax preparation.  Money saved using free tax preparation services, along with all or a portion of any refund can be even directly deposited into an ABLE account when a person is having their taxes prepared.  
Tax refunds do not count as income.  If they are saved after they are received in a nonABLE account, they count towards the resource limit by means tested benefit programs after 12 months.  
So let me clarify that.  When a person receives an income tax refund that is, that is not a countable resource for twelve months.  So a person can deposit their income tax refund into the ABLE, where it would never be a countable resource.  
Best practice, directly deposit tax refunds into an ABLE account to speed up receipt of the refund and increase your ABLE savings.  And this information is included in our ABLE decision guide, understanding ABLE account savings and public benefits.  
Next slide.  
>>   All right I think I'm going to join you for this, Laurie, if that's okay.  As we go through ABLE and income tax scenarios.  We've covered a lot of ground with Don and Laurie so far.  Now it's time to talk about, what might this mean for members of the public, ABLE account owners.  So let's find out.  
With that, Laurie, here's the first case scenario for you.  We have Juan, who is a 30 year‑old ABLE account owner who is not currently working.  My question to you is does Juan need to file taxes because he has an ABLE account?  
>>   Okay.  So, Juan does not need to file taxes simply because he has an ABLE account.  But if a person hasn't worked but receives disability payments from Social Security Administration, retirement income, investment earnings, and/or dividends or if their income is over the IRS limits, they may need to file income taxes.  
Even if a person is not required to file by law, they may choose to file a federal income tax return to claim deductions or tax credits, and that may result in a refund.  If a person decides to become employed to meet their goals and to save more money in their ABLE account, they could consider filing, even if they are not required to file, because maybe their earned income was below a particular threshold.  But it's important that that person file.  
So, next slide.  
>>   Yeah.  Let's go to the next case scenario.  And I think you very much just reiterated what Don said earlier, that really people should file.  That's really what we're driving home here.  
So, with this next case scenario, Laurie ‑‑ oh, actually, this is the Tax Time Tips related to the scenario we just did.  And we can talk about just filing income taxes for 2022 even if you did not have earned income from employment can help you to receive stimulus and Child Tax Credit for 2022 for which people might be eligible.  So that's one of the ABLE Tax Time Tips and takeaways from that scenario that we just shared.  
But we have another scenario here for you.  So Laurie, Susan receives supplemental security income, SSI.  And she has a job coach and has received a 1099 at the end of each year for the last five years that she has worked.  
And the question is, does Susan need to file income taxes?  
>>   So, this is such an important question.  Thank you, Miranda.  
Yes.  Susan should file income taxes and pay FICA taxes each year that she worked.  If Susan missed filing, she may file her income taxes now for 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.  And the same rule applies to a right to claim tax credits.  So she may have large income tax refunds simply by filing these taxes.  
She may either owe income taxes or receive a refund due to tax credits she may be eligible for.  And sometimes a tax refund can off set taxes that have been owed to the IRS.  
Susan should also contact Social Security Administration and report her earnings for each month.  Social Security Administration can then record the earnings for Susan for up to the last three years.  By filing income taxes for employment earnings, and in some cases people need to file FICA taxes then, both their portion and the employer's portion, if they receive a 1099.  
So, when they report this earned income to Social Security Administration, they may qualify for SSDI now or in the future, retirement benefits and Medicare based upon their earned income.  
And I just want to share with people.  So I used to volunteer at one of the free tax preparation sites.  And we heard at the street level that people were being told that they did not need to file income taxes.  So, we went to one of the local providers who provides employment services for people who receive SSI and/or SSDI benefits.  
And we prepared the income tax returns for the staff.  And we did it for their customers; their clients as well.  And everyone learned from that experience.  And people were shocked how much more money they received by filing income tax refunds.  
And you know, going to a free tax preparation site, on average it saves a person $300 to go to a free tax preparation site.  
So, I wanted to go on a little bit more.  Next slide.  
And if Susan owes the IRS or Social Security Administration money, she may use ABLE funds to repay the IRS and Social Security Administration, or she could negotiate a repayment plan and use her earnings to repay the IRS and Social Security Administration.  
IRS taxes and SSA overpayments may be repaid with ABLE account funds.  And these are examples of Qualified Disability Expenses as well.  
But the best practice is to use income to repay IRS and Social Security Administration, and creditors to allow ABLE account investment funds to continue to grow tax‑free within that ABLE account.  
So, we have more information on these topics in our ABLE decision guide, determining whether something is a Qualified Disability Expenses.  So, we invite you to explore that.  
Thank you, Miranda.  
>>   Thank you, Laurie.  
So, now let's talk about best practices for ABLE and tax filing, and next steps and resources that we have.
>>   So, best practice for ABLE contributions is to hold a meeting with those you choose from your family, friends, case managers, and service providers, your sir cull of support, you know, people who are safe to discuss your money goals with.  And you can discuss a plan for maximizing your ABLE deposits each calendar year.  
Next slide.  
Best practices, the Social Security Administration encourages SSI and SSDI recipients to work to their fullest ability.  And there are SSI and SSDI work supports that can help a person to work, earn more money, in many cases while keeping their SSI, SSD I, and Medicaid and Medicare, and sometimes that can be indefinite.  So you can learn more about the work supports at this site, choose work.SSA.gov.  
Next slide please.  
And a best practice.  Spending ABLE funds on Qualified Disability Expenses.  So, deposit your benefits and your earned income into your checking account to pay for food, housing and monthly bills.  Then deposit any extra funds into your ABLE account.  
Now, a portion of your earned income may be directly deposited into an ABLE account too.  So try to leave your deposits in an ABLE account to qualify for the maximum Saver's Tax Credit if you're an able account owner who is employed.  
Okay.  Next slide.  
When working, you may be eligible for the maximum amount of the Earned Income Tax Credit for federal taxes and some states also offer an additional Earned Income Tax Credit.  
You may qualify for retirement and Medicare by filing income taxes and reporting your earnings to Social Security Administration.  And we have more information on this within two decision guides.  One titled ABLE accounts and working people with disabilities, and ow newest, ready and ABLE to work and save.  And there are many, many links in that guide to help people who are not employed presently or who want to expand their career path to find resources to help them meet their employment goals.  
So, next slide, Miranda.  
>>   Thank you Laurie.  And thank you Don.  
This was some real information that we covered that can be useful for people as they file their taxes for 2022.  And as you consider how to make the most out of your ABLE account and for your tax filing that you'll be doing next year.  
We covered a lot of ground.  We do want to share with you a new information ABLE NRC resources and from NDI that can assist you that we hope you'll check out.  
Please do take time to go to the ABLE National Resource Center website at ablenrc.org for any questions or basic questions aside from the topics we covered here today, including you can see the full list of ABLE decision guides.  That is hyperlinked right there.  It is available on our site under resources and also on the home page.  
We also have those ABLE program comparison tools that Laurie mentioned earlier; as well as ABLE frequently asked questions.  We have not just the success stories and the outcomes and strategies, but also the testimonial directly from ABLE account owners and family members who serve as Ambassadors to our center from all across the country, who have such a diversity of stories and things they're doing with their ABLE accounts.  And you'll see some of the practices we discussed here today woven into those stories and strategies they're using as well as others.  
We also have our ABLEtoSave podcasts or webinars both up coming or on did he man.  And we encourage you to sign up for your bimonthly AchievABLE newsletter where we share a lot of shareable information.  
We have ABLE toolkits as well.  They provide our service provider toolkit, our employer toolkit, our toolkit for outreach to communities of color to make sure they're aware of ABLE accounts information, as well as we're in development of a ABLE transition tool right now with the national technical assistance center on transition.  So we're excited to be sharing all of that information to you.  And we grow and expand these resources all the time.  With our team of subject matter experts as well as our Ambassadors and advisors who are account members and family members.  
Please do check out those resources.  
We also want to have you, and Laurie if you could speak on this.  This a great resource and it's a new resource from National Disability Institute.  Laurie would you like to tell folks about this one?  
>>   Sure.  So we have a new project here at National Disability Institute titled share our strength.  And that initiative is all about informing people and family members who have a disability about tax filing opportunities and resources, specifically for people who have disabilities.  
So, this is so important to all of you who have been asking questions about, like your deck beneficiary this they file tax returns and report earnings.  Could that possibly increase that child's benefit in the future because they're filing income taxes?  All of those answers can be found within the Webinar Series that is introduced as part of this new resource.  So we welcome you to explore share our strength on the NDI website, National Disability Institute, our parent organization.  Thank you Miranda.  
>>   Thank you, Laurie.  And we just have one final resource we want to make sure you're aware of before I go to Laurie and Don for any last final thoughts in our wrap‑up moments here.  
But our final resource we want to share with you and make sure is on your radar, National Disability Institute also create I had the Financial Resilience Center.  And that was in response to events that were happening around the pandemic.  And this is an online Resource Center for people with disabilities and chronic health conditions, to get additional financial information and support.  So, do be sure to check out the Financial Resilience Center as well.  There is just a wealth of resources for all of you.  And we all work together as well, so we've cross promote and share resources.  You should have consistent accurate information when you go to these different sources.  
And with that, I know I have, as we're wrapping up and saying thank you, I invite Don to join us back here since we have just a few final moments and hear any final thoughts from Laurie and Don as we wrap up our time here together.  
Laurie, do you have any final, final advice for people who have joined us here today?  
>>   So, we invite you to explore the resources to help you engage in employment, so that you have increased income that can help you to save in your ABLE account now and for your future, for your retirement savings, you can use your ABLE funds.  And really the easiest way to increase retirement savings is to work to your fullest ability.  And if you receive SSI, SSDI, make use of those work supports provided by the Social Security Administration.  
You can be walked through that process.  If you contact ticket to work, an employment network, they will help you through that process of using all those work supports for six to eight or eleven years, as you pursue your career goals.  
>>   Okay.  Great.  Thank you so much Laurie, that's an important additional piece and comment and recommendation for people to consider.  
Don, do you have any final thoughts as we're wrapping up here before we get to our final good byes?  
>>   Yes.  Great information.  I really recommend highly to all the participants, get back and get this slides and take a look at these wonderful links.  
I've been reading with great interest a lot of the questions in the Q&A.  Unfortunately in this format, we can not provide you an answer on whether you are eligible to claim somebody, you know, facts and circumstances are the deciding factor on that decision, so we can't say, yes, your child can be claimed; no your spouse can't.  I apologize for that.  
But I do recommend that you take a look at these resources.  Really make that decision.  I think everybody now is starting to think, should I be filing?  A lot of questions about younger people.  And I really think the answer in almost all cases is yes for various reasons we talked about; potential for credits, potential for deductions.  Just getting credit for Social Security earnings that will have an impact lifetime.  And even something as simple as by filing a tax return, really stops some potential threat of identity theft that somebody else might steel your Social Security number and file a tax return.  
So, I strongly recommend that.  I take a look at all the wonderful resources and again thank you to Laurie and Miranda for such, share such great information.  
>>   Well thank you so much, Don, for joining us and speaking on behalf of the IRS as we present this information to our audience.  
Thank you everyone in our audience for being here today.  We hope that there is information that is very useful and practical for you in a meaningful way, that will increase your financial well being and resilience moving forward.  Towards that end, I understand from our project coordinator, Cheyenne Rivers, that she has posted a link to the PDF that you can copy and download the slide deck from today.  You can also find that it will be posted in our next newsletter and it will be posted on our website within the next five business days.  So if you don't catch it off of that link, you can get it there.  But check out all those hyperlinks, the ones applicable to you.  And we thank you again for joining us.  
Do take a moment to fill out that post training survey.  Let us know what your thoughts are about today's webinar.  And of course if you have any other follow‑up questions, you can include that there in the post training survey with your email address or you can also email us at info@ablenrc.org.  And explore our website as well.  
Have a wonderful day everyone and thank you for being with us.  Good bye.  
(End of session).