What’s New In ACT

1. 2013 ACT User Conference Jim Brod What’s New In ACT

2. Overview • Websites • Escrow Pre-payments • QR Codes • Refund Screen • Taxpayer Information Screens • IVR Phone System • Batch Menu Parameters • Setting Legal Status by Year and Tax Unit • Managing Exemptions for Surviving Spouses • Scheduling Payments • Hotel/Motel System and Permits Systems

3. Websites Captcha • A 'test' on a web site page that humans can pass but current computer programs cannot.

4. Websites • ACT Rules • Captcha appears after 50 web site pages requested by same IP address • User is given 20 attempts to enter the four-character captcha code. • After 20 failures, the IP address is blocked from further web site use • OR • After 2000 web site pages per day, the IP address is blocked

7. Escrow Pre-payments • ACT has developed the functionality to allow for easily escrowing pre-payments for taxpayers • Serves as a helpful tool for taxpayer in planning for their annual property tax bill

8. Escrow Pre-payments • From the Simple Payment screen, users just need to click the Escrow Payment button

9. Escrow Pre-payments • From there, users can easily select the “Escrow for Upcoming Year” option before processing the payment

10. QR Codes • Quick Response codes • Two-dimensional barcode used to store information • Readable by imaging device such as smart phone or tablet which can convert the information to a useful form-including URLs for webpages

11. QR Codes • QR Codes can be added to tax statements

12. QR Codes • When the code is read by a smartphone or tablet, taxpayers are brought directly to their account on the tax office website for payment and information

13. Taxpayer Information Screen • We have created a new taxpayer information screen to keep track of contact information. • Home and cellphone numbers, as well as email addresses can be stored in order to improve communication with taxpayers.

14. Taxpayer Information Screen • The Taxpayer Information Screen can be accessed through the accounts tab

15. Taxpayer Information Screen Phone tab Email tab

16. Refund Screen • We have created a new refund screen to assist tax office employees in keeping track of refunds. • Refunds and voids from TaxLedge are shown

17. Refund Screen • Current Refunds button is available by entitlement at the bottom of the Payment Detail screen

18. Refund Screen • Screen provides information on the refund type, check number, date printed, and recipient address

19. IVR Phone System • We have created the ability in TCS to automatically pull up an account transferred to tax office personnel from the Avaya IVR system. • Tax offices no longer have to manually enter account numbers when IVR phone calls are transferred to them for assistance.

20. IVR Phone System • The phone button is available form the main TCS screen through the client prefmain_menu_show_ivr

21. IVR Phone System • Tax office employees can press the phone button to automatically access account information from an IVR call

22. Batch Menu Parameters • Users can now access the parameters used when running each batch menu job

23. Setting Legal Status by Year and Tax Unit • TCS now allows users to include information on suits by taxing jurisdiction. • Allows the user to easily see which years and taxing units are included in lawsuits.

24. Setting Legal Status by Year and Tax Unit • This function will be thoroughly described in the 9 Topics in 90 Minutes session

25. Managing Exemptions for Surviving Spouses • Users can now manually enter information for both veterans an surviving spouses on the Special Exemptions tab of the Account Master screen.

26. Scheduling Payments • We are currently working on updating our tax office websites to provide the ability for tax payers to schedule automatic payments • Taxpayers will be able to log in to the website and schedule tax payments to be deducted from their bank accounts or charged to their credit cards on a bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly schedule • Simplifies payment agreements and quarter pays for taxpayers and tax offices

27. Scheduling Payments

28. Hotel/Motel System • ACT has developed a new interface for use by hotels and motels for reporting and payment processing

29. Hotel/Motel System • ACT has developed a new online interface for use by hotels and motels • Fully integrated with TCS and TaxLedge • Allows hotelownersto file and pay online. • Reduces errors which can cause short pays and overpays. • Robust reporting, including ability to bill customers. • Reduce data entry required by the tax office. • To be discussed Thursday at 1:30 in Room B.

30. City Permits System • ACT has expanded our TABC permits system to be used by cities as well as counties. • We can provide you h the information you need to start collecting city fees. • To be discussed tonight at Aldaco’s during our Permits session.