technology update bob willis ntc chair modified by howard riggert tcs – ny3
DESCRIPTION
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 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
1NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
Bob Willis NTC Chair
Modified by Howard Riggert
TCS – NY3
2NTC 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
3NTC 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
4NTC 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
5NTC 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%
6NTC 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
7NTC 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
8NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
Tax-Year 2012-13 Planning
New Objectives for 2012-13Release 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
9NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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
10NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
2011 TCS Survey
Printer Configurations
11NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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.
14NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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.
15NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
2011 TCS Survey
Networks
Networks can be wired, wireless or a combination of wired and wireless. More details will be discussed with TCs
16NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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.
17NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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
18NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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.
19NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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.
20NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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
21NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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.
22NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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.
23NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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
24NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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.
25NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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
26NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
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.
27NTC 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
28NTC 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
29NTC 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
30NTC 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
31NTC TCS Training - Dallas 2012
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
Questions ???