State Tax Assistance Program TAXAIDE Sep 2015 Regional

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

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 Tax. Wise to get it right 4. Get help to complete other state return TAX-AIDE Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 2

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

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 One. Support TAX-AIDE Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 4

Requesters Comments… Good service for taxpayers – they were pleased, but… ● Finding time for a return visit at appointmentonly 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 TAX-AIDE Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 5

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

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/… TAX-AIDE Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 7

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 email TAX-AIDE Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 8

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 TAX-AIDE Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 9

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 TAX-AIDE list of desired assisting states Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 10

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 TAX-AIDE Sep 2015 Regional Meetings 11

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