1 / 29

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Bob Willis NTC Chair Modified by Howard Riggert TCS – NY3

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

yvonne-gilliam
Download Presentation

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Bob Willis NTC Chair Modified by Howard Riggert TCS – NY3

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Bob Willis NTC Chair Modified by Howard Riggert TCS – NY3

  2. 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

  3. Tax-Year 2011 in Review • TaxWiseOnLine – 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

  4. Tax-Year 2011 in Review • 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

  5. Tax-Year 2011 in Review • 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%

  6. Tax-Year 2011 in Review • 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

  7. Tax-Year 2011 in Review • 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

  8. Tax-Year 2012-13 Planning • New Objectives for 2012-13 • Release 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

  9. 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

  10. 2011 TCS Survey Printer Configurations

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 2011 TCS Survey • Networks Networks can be wired, wireless or a combination of wired and wireless. More details will be discussed with TCs

  14. 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.

  15. What’s New for 2012-13 Season • 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

  16. What’s New for 2012-13 Season • 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.

  17. What’s New for 2012-13 Season • 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.

  18. What’s New for 2012-13 Season • 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

  19. What’s New for 2012-13 Season • TaxWise Template • AARP has a Template for TWO to reduce the effort in adding defaults – Subscriber No. 684025 – NY3 sites will have this Template.

  20. What’s New for 2012-13 Season • 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.

  21. What’s New for 2012-13 Season • 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

  22. 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.

  23. What’s New for 2012-13 • 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

  24. What’s New for 2012-13 • 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.

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Questions ???

More Related