TAX-AIDE State Tax Assistance Program Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 1

TAX-AIDE State Tax Returns ● Situation: Taxpayer requires return from another state which the counselor has not been trained to prepare ● Options: 1. Turn taxpayer away 2. Ignore other state return 3. Rely on TaxWise to get it right 4. Get help to complete other state return Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 2

TAX-AIDE State Tax Assistance Program ● Experienced volunteers provide assistance on their home state tax returns Excludes federal tax assistance ● Phone and TaxWise Online ● Not “instantaneous” – second visit for taxpayer necessary to complete returns Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 3

TAX-AIDE State Tax Assistance Program (cont) ● Pilot for tax year 2014 Limited number of states that could request assistance Limited number of states that provided assistance Requests submitted through OneSupport Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 4

TAX-AIDE Requesters Comments… Good service for taxpayers – they were pleased, but… ● Finding time for a return visit at appointment- only sites a challenge – would like to complete all returns in one taxpayer visit ● Don’t have the capacity – this reduces number of my state taxpayers that can be served ● ACA enough of a change – could not add other state returns too Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 5

TAX-AIDE Requesters Comments… ● Improve state intake sheets ● More fill-in-the-blanks on Request form ● Standardize TWO login ● Add more assisting states Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 6

TAX-AIDE Assisters Comments… ● Simplify ticket handling process ● More consistency in request information ● More consistency in TWO set-up by requesting site ● Better use of state intake sheet by requester ● Standardize how assistance is to be documented – Prep Use form/diary/ticket note/… Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 7

TAX-AIDE Conclusions ● Generally positive – assisting counselors provided the help needed to properly complete their state returns ● Doesn’t necessarily fit all sites capabilities/needs ● Must keep security of taxpayer data in mind, i.e., don’t provide Client ID and User Name for new TWO user in same Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 8

TAX-AIDE Tax Year 2015 ● Refine processes for Requesters and Assisters Modify request form for consistent information Simplify ticket handling for Assisters Review State Intake sheets Training for all Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 9

TAX-AIDE Tax Year 2015 ● Add requesting states Opt in by state/district/site Requires coordination at site  Tracking requests  TWO logins  State intake sheets Decision by end of November  Also list of desired assisting states Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 10

TAX-AIDE Tax Year 2015 ● Add assisting states U.S. state-based State Coordinator option  At least five volunteers to provide assistance  Lead who monitors all requests ● Decision by end of November Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 11

TAX-AIDE State Tax Assistance Program Questions… Comments… Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 12