1 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Bob Willis NTC Chair Modified by Howard Riggert TCS – NY3

2 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 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 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 Tax-Year 2011 in Review  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

4 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 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 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 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 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 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 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 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 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 Tax-Year Planning  New Objectives for  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 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 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 NTC TCS Training - Dallas TCS Survey Printer Configurations

11 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 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 NTC TCS Training - Dallas TCS Survey Printer Configurations – Networked

13 NTC TCS Training - Dallas TCS Survey Printer Configurations – Networked  Better configurations here, but some of these sites should go the next step and either use TWO or at least network TaxWise Desktop.  Expect to see more use of Wireless network printing as we provide more wireless capable printers.

14 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 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.

15 NTC TCS Training - Dallas TCS Survey  Networks Networks can be wired, wireless or a combination of wired and wireless. More details will be discussed with TCs

16 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 What’s New for 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.

17 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 What’s New for 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

18 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 What’s New for 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.

19 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 What’s New for 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.

20 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 What’s New for 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

21 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 What’s New for Season  TaxWise Template  AARP has a Template for TWO to reduce the effort in adding defaults – Subscriber No – NY3 sites will have this Template.

22 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 What’s New for 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.

23 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 What’s New for Season  TaxWise Changes  Form 8949 (Ca pital 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

24 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 What’s New for  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.

25 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 What’s New for  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

26 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 What’s New for  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.

27 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 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

28 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 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

29 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 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

30 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 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

31 NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012 TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Questions ???