Mayor’s Leadership Academy September 2011 Boston, Massachusetts Top 10 Tips for 2012.
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Transcript of Mayor’s Leadership Academy September 2011 Boston, Massachusetts Top 10 Tips for 2012.
Mayor’s Leadership Academy
September 2011
Boston, Massachusetts
Top 10 Tips for 2012
Tips for 2012 – Number 10
Promote the Benefits of Purchasing Savings Bonds with
Tax Refund
• Access Through Form 8888
• Can Split a Refund Into an Existing Bank Account or Receive Remainder of Refund in Paper Check
• Great Entry Point for “First Time” Savers
Tips for 2012 – Number 9
Consider Offering “FAST” Services in Your Community
• Free Assisted Self-Service Tax Preparation Services
• Taxpayer Completes Returns With Assistance From Trained Volunteer
• Did You Know? VITA/TCE Serves Close to 70% Single Taxpayers
Tips for 2012 – Number 8
Emphasize to All Your Partners The Critical Need to Capture
Data
• Data Is Key To All Funders
• Data Helps Highlight Gaps, Barriers and Challenges
• Data Will Help Us Serve More Individuals with Disabilities
Tips for 2012 – Number 7
SPEC Offers a “Little” Help to Our Friends This Tax Season
• Form 8879 Retention Requirement Has Been Removed
• TaxWise Password Reset Process Has Been Automated
• Linked and Unlinked Returns Options Have Been Restored
Tips for 2012 – Number 6
Utilize TaxWise Training Opportunities To Make Sites More
Efficient • TaxWise Offers Over 50 Training Topics for
Desktop and Online Products
• Lessons Average 8 Minute Per Topic
• Better Training Might Stop the Over 63,000 Calls Free Tax Volunteers Made Last Year
• Might Make Volunteers Happier to NOT Have to Call!!
Tips for 2012 – Number 5
Increase Accurate Returns at Your Site – Complete A Thorough Quality Review of Each Tax
Return
• No One is Perfect!
• Only Takes a Few Minutes But Might Save Taxpayer’s Hours of Frustration Further Down the Road!!
Tips for 2012 – Number 4
Increase Accurate Returns at Your Site – Complete An In-Depth
Intake and Interview Process on Every Return
• Taxpayer Knows All the Answers – But You Have to Ask!
• Might Help Clients Get Bigger Refunds!!
Tips for 2012 – Number 3
Expand Resources In Most Effective and Efficient Manner
• Long Term Program Sustainability Requires Optimization of Available Resources
• Transition to Electronic Products and Electronic Training Options Where Feasible
Tips for 2012 – Number 2
Increase Confidence In Free Tax Preparation Program
• Accuracy is Key For All Parties – IRS, Partners and Especially Taxpayers
• In Challenging Economic and Budget Times, Increased Confidence Will Translate to Increased Funding
• Insure Highest Ethical Standards are Followed By All Participants
Tips for 2012 – Number 1
Expand Ability to Serve More Taxpayer’s at Free Tax
Preparation Sites• 19 Million Low to Moderate Income Taxpayers
Are Interested in Free Tax Preparation Services
• 3 Million Taxpayers Have Been Served Over Past Several Years
• Identify Innovative Methods For Serving More Taxpayers