MULTIPLEEFIN SETUP NTC NTTC Dallas Friday July 23

MULTIPLE-EFIN SETUP NTC/ NTTC - Dallas Friday, July 23 th Tax. Wise Setup for Computers Used At More Than One Site – For Sites That Do Not Use TWO NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 1

Computers at Multiple Sites o With or without networks, some things are the same o Different sites have unique SIDNs and most sites use different EFINs NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 2

SIDNs and EFINs. . . o Each site where returns are prepared has a unique Site IDentification Number (SIDN) An SIDN Does Not belong to a person. A person is a custodian. o Every site where e-files are prepared also uses an Electronic Filing Identification Number – an EFIN NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 3

Why Multiple-EFIN Setup? o May be discretionary for interoperability q Computers in a district can be set up to work at many sites in the district o May be mandatory for computers used at multiple sites, each with its own EFIN. q Tax. Wise site-license rule q Exceptions for “one-day” and “ad hoc” sites q See TMG and Pub 3189 for details This presentation covers the mandatory case. NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 4

SIDNs and EFINs. . . q q q There is a new Site License Exception 3 that allows an ERO to use one single EFIN for multiple sites. The ERO must transmit all of the returns with the same computer. Sites choosing to use this exception must indicate it at the time their software order is placed. If exceptions 1 or 2 apply do not specify exception 3 as CCH charges a license fee for each exception 3 site. Separate Tax. Wise users will be created, each with the unique site information (SIDN, site name and address, etc), that will be used to identify returns prepared at the different sites. If TW 2009 had a Primary EFIN and an XMIT EFIN and the XMIT EFIN is to be cancelled, you should be able to carry forward for both EFINs. NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 5

If possible, Use TWO Using Tax. Wise Online avoids the multiple. EFIN setup challenges of Tax. Wise Desktop. Just log-in to the EFIN where you are working today! NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 6

If possible, Use Networks Using Private Networks (LANs) can solve many configuration issues: o Allows computers to be used as workstations at different sites without actually installing Tax. Wise on them o Server computer can also be used as a workstation at other sites o Avoids multiple-EFIN setups o Simplifies Printer Sharing NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 7

If possible, Use Networks Using Private Networks (LANs) can also solve many operational issues: o Eliminates backup from Preparing and restore to Transmitting computer o Fewer Tax. Wise installations to keep Up-To-Date o More secure because only server computers contain Taxpayer data Networking Tax. Wise Procedures available on AARP Extra. Net NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 8

Transmitting Your Town Senior Center Computer Your Town Library NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 9

SPECIAL SITUATIONS. . . o Sometimes a computer is used at more than one site with a different EFIN for each site o And sometimes a computer actually transmits e-files for more than one site with different EFINs q A special kind of registration code makes this possible NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 10

THE 20 -DIGIT ALPHA-NUMERIC TRANSMIT CODE. . . o This code – also called an XMIT code – is not the same as the standard 20 digit alpha-numeric REG code for an EFIN o XMIT codes allow returns to be created on and/or transmitted from a single computer for more than one EFIN without changing Tax. Wise Setup Options o XMIT codes must be requested through your SPEC Office or directly from CCH NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 11

Ordering an XMIT code o When an XMIT code is ordered, the order must specify the two EFINs involved and the relationship between them. o The order should be worded, "a Transmit Code that allows EFIN-A to transmit for EFIN-B“ and should specify the EFINs by number. NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 12

INITIAL SETUP. . . o Complete the setup screens as usual q Company – your Primary EFIN q General – set DCN suffix (just a counter) q Must be UNIQUE within an EFIN q Do not change during season q Printer q Color – must click FINISH to save settings NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 13

REGISTER SOFTWARE. . . o The Register Software dialog box will appear, showing your Primary EFIN o Put in your standard 20 -digit alphanumeric REG code for that EFIN q Note that you’ll be back at the Tax. Wise main page. q Click Tools, Utilities/Setup Options to return to the Utilities screen NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 14

REGISTER Tax. Wise FOR MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. . . o Click Setup, Register Software o Put in the secondary EFIN for which you will transmit or prepare returns o Press TAB, and put in the special XMIT code for that EFIN as the Registration Code – If you try to enter a registration code instead of a XMIT code you will get an error message. o Repeat as needed for additional secondary EFINs NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 15

Create the Tax. Wise Users o There must be a separate User created for each EFIN – Admin must set up Users to set their own defaults o There may be multiple Users for an EFIN if it is used at multiple sites o Set defaults for these Users q Form 8879 – EFIN, SIDN, Site Address information q Main Info – SIDN NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 16

TRANSMITTING COMPUTER. . . q Has EFIN 281151 but will also transmit for EFIN 281152 NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 17

NON-TRANSMITTING COMPUTERS. . . o Transmit Codes can also be used by computers going to multiple sites with different EFINs if the computer will NOT transmit any returns. o Just back-up prepared returns for each EFIN and restore them to the Transmitting Computer for that EFIN. NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 18

NON-TRANSMITTING COMPUTERS o Going to 4 sites NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 19

TRANSMITTING COMPUTERS o Only install an XMIT code on the Transmitting Computer that will transmit ALL returns for the EFIN using that XMIT code. o Must always have the Primary EFIN on the Company Setup screen when q sending returns q getting acknowledgements q using Tax. Wise e-mail NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 20

MULTIPLE SEPARATE EFINS o Multiple EFINs can also be registered separately to Tax. Wise one at a time using their REG codes without using XMIT codes o This is a less preferable option because the Setup Options in Tax. Wise have to be reset when starting a session at a site with a different EFIN NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 21

MULTIPLE SEPARATE EFINS o Multiple-EFIN setups without XMIT codes require that the EFIN being used be listed on the Company page of Setup Options. o This can be done manually – OR o TW Make Icons, part of the FL 1 Clone Tools, can be used to automate this task by building a unique desktop shortcut (icon) for launching Tax. Wise set up for each site. A description of this tool is posted on the Technology page of the AARP Tax-Aide Extra. Net. NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 22

TRANSMITTING COMPUTER. . . o Going to 4 sites, transmitting for 2 NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 23

TRANSMITTING COMPUTER. . . o Going to 4 sites, transmitting for 2 q EFINs on Company Screen ü Use Site 1 EFIN for Both Sites 1 & 2 And each site’s respective User ü Use Site 3 EFIN and User 3 for Site 3 ü Use Site 4 EFIN and User 4 for Site 4 NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 24

NON-TRANSMITTING COMPUTERS o must reset the EFIN on the Company Screen when going from site to site q The next 4 slides illustrate these changes NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 25

REGISTER COMPUTER FOR FIRST SITE NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 26

RE-REGISTER COMPUTER FOR SITE 2 NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 27

RE-REGISTER COMPUTER FOR SITE 3 NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 28

RE-REGISTER COMPUTER FOR SITE 4 NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 29

MULTIPLE-EFIN SETUP SUMMARY 4 OPTIONS: 1. Use Tax. Wise Online whenever possible to completely avoid this issue. 2. Use client/server networking whenever possible to avoid complex multiple-EFIN Tax. Wise setups. 3. Use XMIT codes to establish multiple-EFIN setups that do not have to be changed. 4. Last option is to use changing multiple. EFIN setups with REG codes only There is a tool to automate this option. NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 30

MULTIPLE-EFIN SETUP THE LAST WORD o There have been proposals for and experiments with installing multiple copies of the same year of Tax. Wise on a single computer. o This approach is NOT recommended or supported! NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 31

Multiple-EFIN Setup Questions ? ? ? NTC/TCS Training – Dallas 2010 32