ERO/Transmitter Training TY2016

Local Coordinator - ERO LC has the overall responsibility for a Site’s Operation. ERO is IRS term for who is responsible for filing tax returns At many AARP Foundation Tax-Aide sites the LC is also the ERO This presentation addresses the ERO portion of an LC’s responsibilities NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Primary Duty Timely filing signed Federal and State tax returns after they have been quality reviewed by a second tax counselor and reviewed with the taxpayer(s). NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Responsibilities Establish a process to insure all returns are promptly submitted Track status of all returns from creation to acceptance using Return Tags Receive & review return acknowledgments Ensure all Rejected returns are promptly corrected, re-submitted and accepted, or are converted to paper returns for the taxpayer to mail NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Responsibilities (cont.) Report statistical accomplishments as required Answer questions and address anomalies that occur during return preparation and electronic filing Do not retain any taxpayer data unless required by the IRS or State law Security of taxpayer data is everyone’s responsibility NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Qualifications Certified as a AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Volunteer Counselor Proficient with TaxSlayer Pro Online Basic knowledge of computers, software, and site procedures NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Follow Returns until Accepted Use Return Tags in TSO, or Use Paperless Tracking with TSO, or Use Activity Reporting & Quality Review Tracking Log, or All of the above (optional) Caution: Paper logs may not contain Taxpayer data, SSN, phone numbers or other personal information NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Using a Tracking Log A tracking log is available on the Portal’s One Support Help Center in the Activity Reporting Section [Site Activity Log Form] The log may be used to track federal and state return status, questions asked, paper returns and amended returns Sites may modify the form to meet local needs Note: Activity reporting section is LC’s responsibility NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

ERO Tracking Log NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

TSO Return Tags Tags are defined by the site Admin Users apply (or remove) a Tag to define return’s status Returns can be filtered according to the Tags applied to them Examples of tags: Hold for More Info, Amended Return, 8879 not signed, State only return, etc. NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Paperless Tracking in TSO A return’s current status is automatically changed by TSO at each stage All returns of the same status can be grouped together Filter the client list by a specific status, or click on the Status column to sort the client list by status’s NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

State Returns Linked returns – TaxSlayer submits Federal and State returns together. The State return is held by TaxSlayer until the Federal Return is accepted, then it is automatically sent to the State. Un-linked State Returns – On the last e-file screen you can check a box to ”Send State Only” NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

E-file Procedure On Submission page: Click the “Approved” box in the Review Status section Select the “Mark Complete” check box Select “Save and Transmit…”, or “Save and Exit” See next 2 slides for illustration NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

E-filing before saving return 2 *If 8879 is signed, check this box 1 – selects Approved 2 – check Mark Complete 3 – closes return. 1 3* NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

E-filing closed return Log into TaxSlayer as user that includes e-file submission role Select “Transmissions” from the TaxSlayer welcome page Illustrations follow - See next slide for Transmissions page. NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

E-filing closed returns (cont.) NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Transmissions Page – Transmit Returns 1. Select each return to submit (or, “Check All”) 2. Click “Transmit selected return(s) to IRS” 1 TaxSlayer will automatically file the federal return as “linked” to the state return. The IRS does not send linked state returns to the state until the federal return is accepted. 2 1 NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Transmissions Page “Transmissions” page contains all “complete” returns ready to transmit For rejected returns, click “Add Returns” to include them See next slide for Add returns page. NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

“Add Returns” Page Select returns to retransmit (check the box) Click “Add Returns” to include in transmission 1 See next slide for transmissions page 2 NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

After Transmitting - After transmitting return(s), the “Tax Return Transmissions” page shows the number of returns submitted Click “Back” to return to the Welcome page NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Client Status will Update Tax return status automatically changes after transmitting NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Acknowledgements TSO changes return’s status as it is accepted or rejected Acknowledgement Reports also show status of returns Review reports for Rejected returns to be corrected and re-submitted Provide feedback to all Counselors NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Acknowledgement Reports Select “Reports” View: “IRS Acknowledgements” “State Acknowledgements” “Validation Errors” (“MEF” errors) “Rejected Returns” NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Reports Page Click one – IRS acknowledgements Click two – State acknowledgements Click three – TaxSlayer processing center secondary validation checks. Checks performed before sent to IRS. TaxSlayer will develop additional training regarding secondary validation checks. NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

All acknowledged returns are listed with status IRS Acknowledgements All acknowledged returns are listed with status Accepted Description of Reject Rejected NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Acknowledgements (cont) Review each acknowledged return If accepted – Accepted and Date shown in Status column If rejected – Rejected and Date in Status column and reason in Reject Code column NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Acknowledgements (cont) Print PDF for more information If the return is rejected, the report will describe what it is rejected for, along with the exact data element that is rejected (as long as the IRS system passes that data element back to TaxSlayer). You can print the report as a PDF When you are finished reviewing, click Back NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

State Returns & Validation Errors Follow the same procedure for reviewing State Return and Validation Error Reports to identify returns that were not Accepted. NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Validation Errors Search for returns rejected by TaxSlayer processing center when checking acknowledgements Click Select on Validation Errors line for list Reason displayed in Help column NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Rejected Returns Identify error and correct it New Form 8879 signatures if : SSN or name changed, or >$50 change in total income or AGI, or >$14 change in total tax, federal tax withheld, refund or amount due NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

Rejected Return (cont.) Advise taxpayer of changes and provide a corrected copy If cannot be e-filed, convert to paper The taxpayer must mail the return Provide feedback to Counselor Note: TSO mail is secure NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

End of Season Deactivate Counselors at the end of the Tax Season Exceptions: Administrator Selected Quality Reviewers NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

End of Season (cont.) Return AARP computers to custodian Return IRS computers to IRS Depot Safely store computers, printers and supplies until next season NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

ERO/Transmitter Training Questions? Comments… NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016