Description

Practice skills and vocabulary related to filing federal income taxes, including interpreting W-2s and using tax tables, with this 15-question scavenger hunt!

Students are provided a sample W-2 and a sample tax table to use as they answer the questions.

Topics include:

• locating and interpreting information on a W-2
• tax-related vocabulary
• calculating tax using tax tables
• calculating taxable income
• and more!

This resource also includes a worksheet version of the scavenger hunt that can be used as an alternative assignment for absent students or students who are unable to move around the room. A student recording sheet and answer key are also included.

This scavenger hunt was updated in January 2026 to include 2025 tax tables and forms.

This activity is intended as extra practice, and students should already be familiar with W-2s, tax tables, and the 1040 before completing this activity. If you’re looking for instructional materials that will teach students how to file their taxes, this activity is also included as part of my full filing taxes instructional unit: Filing Federal Income Taxes Personal Finance Unit – Using W2s and Form 1040!

How this scavenger hunt works:

• Hang the question cards around the room.
• Students can start on any card. After they believe they have answered their first question, they will look around the room for their answer on the top of another card. This becomes their second question.
• Students will continue until they have answered all 15 questions, and the last question returns them to the one they started with.

The information provided in this resource does not, and is not intended to, constitute tax or financial advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available are for general informational purposes only.  Information in this resource may not constitute the most up-to-date tax or other information.  This resource may contain information regarding third parties.  Such information is only for the convenience of the reader.  CKMath does not recommend or endorse any third party, and CKMath is not affiliated with, nor sponsored by, the United States Internal Revenue Services.