1. ERO/Transmitter Training
TY2016

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. ERO Tracking Log
NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. E-filing before saving return2
*If 8879 is signed, check this box
1 – selects Approved
2 – check Mark Complete
3 – closes return. 1 3*
NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. “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
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20. 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
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21. Client Status will Update
Tax return status automatically changes after transmitting
NTC & NTTC Training – TY2016

22. 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

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

24. 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

25. All acknowledged returns are listed with status
IRS Acknowledgements
All acknowledged returns are listed with status
Accepted
Description of Reject
Rejected
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26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

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

33. 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

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