1 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Bob Willis NTC Chair Modified by Howard Riggert...

1NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

Bob Willis NTC Chair

Modified by Howard Riggert

TCS – NY3


Tax-Year 2011 in Review

Successes TWO conversions continue New computer Images gaining usage Improved Tech Communications

Introduced multi-level Tech Bulletin distribution Introduced ShareNet on Portal

Revised Equipment Inventory procedure Inventory Data Collection Tool – To Database Why every year? New Computers, Upgrades to

Win 7, Keys in Database used for future reimages



TaxWise OnLine – National Totals TW2008 – 3% of sites TW2009 – 12% of sites TW2010 – 20% of sites TW2011 – 34% of sites TW2012 – 50% of sites is goal

After first week issues, TWO was reliable during the 2011 tax season



Equipment Issues – Depot Laptops

Few problems this year with these computers

Imaging gains as method to simplify updating of AARP computers Both “XP” and “Windows 7” non-model specific

images were available – Newest versions available 10/31/12

More of our recent AARP computers upgraded to Windows 7



Data Retention

IRS eliminated requirement to keep and send them copies of Form 8879 and income documents.

AARP Tax-Aide prohibited keeping these documents too.

EIN checking website made available to resolve rejects, success mixed.

AARP Rejects Reduced by 56%



TaxWise Software Issues –

Fewer Desktop updates & issues this year. Validation errors with both TWD & TWO better,

but still an issue. Enhancement list –

Compiled and Prioritized list to CCH in Mid-March Initial review with IRS & CCH in mid-April



Communication– Very successful with multi-level Tech Bulletins

Most to ERO level Introduced ShareNet on portal

Some initial portal connection issues Still needs better Organization and Indexing


Tax-Year 2012-13 Planning

New Objectives for 2012-13Release and promotion of Imaging

Will begin upgrade of AARP computers using the donated Win 7 license.

TaxWise Software Testing before season to include TWO capacity (Stress Test) – Still need volunteers by 11/10 for this effort

Promote TaxWise-OnLine (TWO) Including specific site internet and Equipment

needs


2011 TCS Survey

TWO Growth for 2012 The Survey said that 40% of our TaxWise Desktop sites have Internet available at the site, but either don’t or are not allowed to use it.

You are encouraged to pursue using this existing Internet at these sites


2011 TCS Survey

Printer Configurations


2011 TCS Survey

Printer Configurations – Non-Networked

Almost 50% of sites do not network or use an electronic switch for printing.

Over 50% of sites using non-networked printers have a printer connected to each computer and another 20% physically move the printer (or printer cable) between computers. This not an efficient use.

A waste of resources.


2011 TCS Survey

New Computer Images – Huge Success From the preliminary sample over 1000

computers were updated using the Image instead of downloading and installing Windows updates. 800 with Windows XP Nearly 200 to Windows 7

With the 10/31/12 release of the Images and more field experience this should expand substantially this next year.


2011 TCS Survey

Networks

Networks can be wired, wireless or a combination of wired and wireless. More details will be discussed with TCs


What’s New for 2012-13 Season

Encryption AARP is eliminating the required

use of “TrueCrypt” for TaxWise Desktop computers. TaxWise Software is fully Encrypted If moved to C: Must run Setup.exe New App for unencrypted P: Drive

IRS Depot Laptops are still encrypted per US Gov’t Rules.



EFIN Administration Paper Form 8633 no longer accepted All revisions and new applications will need to use e-Services. New and existing EFINs should be assigned two Responsible

Officials. RO is not the same as ERO. Local IRS SPEC offices can also assist in making EFIN changes



IRS E-Filing Publications Pub 1345 – Handbook for e-File Providers, updated

this year. Only available as electronic edition

Pub 3189 – Volunteer e-File Administration Guide, will become electronic only after this year.



TaxWise Changes No More Legacy processing – all Modernized eFile (MeF)

TWO Safety-Net (Off-line) Option will be introduced Uses Desktop that transfers efiles to TWO when back on-line Use when internet down or CCH unavailable. At site or elsewhere.



TaxWise Changes “Linked” State Returns can not be sent until Federal Return is

accepted. No more State Reject 901 and 902.

TWO Training Templates can be “Published” to Production version Production Templates can not be used in TWO Training



TaxWise Template AARP has a Template for TWO to reduce the

effort in adding defaults – Subscriber No. 684025 – NY3 sites will have this Template.



1040 Line 21 Other Income

New Worksheet for reporting Miscellaneous Income

Includes 16 additional income lines

New diagnostics will be added Income from another form

auto-populates the worksheet with amount and type

1099-Misc income link to worksheet then to

1099M.



TaxWise Changes

Form 8949 (Capital Gains and Losses) now a six page form instead of two pages so that copies don’t have to be added to the forms tree – short term and long term. A – 1099 includes basis to IRS B – 1099 does not include basis to IRS – Broker statement may include basis, but not

1099 C – No 1099 form


What’s New for 2012-13

Continue transition to Windows 7 on AARP Tax-Aide computers. New computers have Windows 7 Begin to upgrade AARP Foundation &

Donated computers to Windows 7 that were in the May 2010 Inventory Requires a minimum of 1GB of RAM

Begin distribution of additional Memory for AARP purchased computers

Use Enterprise grant licenses from Microsoft.



Printers Our Consumables contract with GraceWorkz

includes a Printer Repair Service at no cost to Tax-Aide. Barbara Kaiser and Kaye Curry are contacts. Cartridge complaints were sent to National.

Tax-Aide encouraged our volunteers to use the repair service last season.

Still, the 2012 Inventory reported 139 NW (Not Working) printers, 89 were eligible for free repair by GraceWorkz



Printers (Continued) We need to efficiently use the printers we

currently have, and believe some states have more printers than they need.

This year we will not automatically replace all of the printers reported as NW.

Each state will be asked to determine their need for replacement printers.

Next year printers eligible for GraceWorkz repair but not sent to them will not be replaced.


TaxWise OnLine

Promote conversion to TWO Use TWO Training and Practice Lab

websites to Practice Online Prior year TWO Training website has

State software for practicing


Advantages of TaxWise Online

Reduced Tax Preparation Burden No installation on individual computers

program maintained on CCH server

No updates required for TWO – updated by CCH. TWO Safety Backup on Desktop may require updating.

No need to backup, restore or transmit returns – data already at CCH


Advantages of TaxWise Online

Improved Security No data stored locally on individual computers -

secured facility stores all data Intrusion detection – CCH uses software to

reduce threat of hackers

Access from any computer with proper identification and Broadband Internet

Immediate availability – nothing to install

Ideal for Using Site Provided Equipment


Advantages of Networking

Every Desktop site with two or more computers should be networked

Reduced Tax Preparation Burden Fewer copies of TW to setup and maintain Eliminates need to copy returns from multiple

computers for transmission Provides easy method to print from all

computers Improved Security

Fewer computers with taxpayer data


TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

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1 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Bob Willis NTC Chair Modified by Howard Riggert...

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