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TaxWise Online

TaxWise Online. The soft sell. New Jersey TWO Experience. Tax year 2009 was the first use of TWO in NJ 7 districts [Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Monmouth, Morris and Somerset] 20 sites [11%] 5,764 e-files [22%] All 12 Morris sites were TWO. Other TWO districts had 1 or 2 TWO sites.

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TaxWise Online

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  1. TaxWise Online The soft sell

  2. New Jersey TWO Experience Tax year 2009 was the first use of TWO in NJ • 7 districts [Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Monmouth, Morris and Somerset] • 20 sites [11%] • 5,764 e-files [22%] All 12 Morris sites were TWO. Other TWO districts had 1 or 2 TWO sites.

  3. What did we learn? • TWO did not meet all expectations • Experienced EFCs may be disappointed • New, different, and eliminated ERO tasks • Pre- and Post- Season activities • Managing and submitting returns • Wires, wires, and more wires… • How to train, certify and improve proficiency using TWO • How to work with sites and internet providers to obtain TWO support • Libraries generally have fast & reliable internet • Sites may be unaware of internet access • You can’t have too much lead time (Politics, work-orders, track down decision makers, etc.) • Free Internet access is much more prevalent than you might think

  4. Comments from TWO users • What was your role: preparer, ERO, TC or other? • Did you use TWO for training, production or both? • What did you like and dislike about TWO? • What would you like to see changed in TWO? • If you know, what will your district be doing with TWO next season?

  5. The “Negatives” include • Returns take longer to prepare with TWO • Compared to TaxWise Desktop’s many aides to ease data entry and speed preparation, TWO is “feature poor” • Server speed was sometimes slow • Server reliability was less than desired • A wired network is required • Carry forward only from same EFIN

  6. So, what’s to like? • Security of taxpayer data – pre, during and post-season • No encryption software • No TaxWise software on computers or flash drives for training or production • No need to backup, store or install retained data for carry forward • TWO updates are installed automatically • No end of day, periodic or end of season backup/restore • Ability to remotely access returns and trouble-shoot issues • Ability to access IRS and NJ websites from EFC computers (e.g. Homestead Rebate lookup, online forms, searching IRS pubs and instructions)

  7. Don’t throw away your flash drives • You may want them to install printer drivers

  8. There are some pleasant surprises • TWO [both training and production] is faster, more reliable and has more features than Link and Learn • Most EFCs can switch between TWO and Desktop without problems • Access to prior years TWO to prepare returns • Prior years TWO returns with same EFIN available for review and to amend

  9. Some ERO and TC favorites • View return on more than 1 computer • Can help with questions on returns, rejects and templates • Computers can be at different locations • Change a template [form defaults] and it immediately applies to all new returns [FLI] • Control who has what access to the EFIN • View only Active returns or Rejected returns • Easily prepare on one computer and print or QR on another • Easily move returns to or from users

  10. Icing on the cake • Substitute ERO – EASY! • Site and partners may allow use of additional computers since we will not be installing software • Plus use of computer training labs for TWO • If your district is all TWO, NO CLONE!

  11. Training with TWO • TWO training will shift to current year [Fed only] about 1 December • Take IRS exam with current year TWO • Proficiency training with current year TWO • Train on current year NJ last 2 weeks of January • Can conduct wirelessly • Use 1 TWO EFIN for all training in the district • Train with prior year TWO [Fed & NJ] through November

  12. Managing Training with the TWO EFIN • 1 EFIN can accommodate 100 volunteers in training • Each volunteer has unique 2 digit number [YY] • Exercise SSN: XXX-YY-ZZZZ • XXX: from exercise • ZZZZ: last 4 digits of client ID • Students are Preparers – see only their returns • Coaches are Superusers • See all returns • Filter on individual user [-YY-]

  13. Potential TWO Sites

  14. Potential TWO Sites

  15. What are the Show Stoppers? • Site cannot provide suitable internet access • DC, TC or site ERO prefers to use Desktop • DC, TC or site ERO decides to not use a wired network

  16. TWO for 2010: Summary • Every district appears to have at least 1 existing site suitable for TWO • Training with TWO can be provided to the entire district with only 1 TWO EFIN • There are disadvantages to TWO: don’t agree to use it until you are ready to commit • If you would like to learn how to evaluate a site for TWO, return after the break

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