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WELCOME

WELCOME. RETURNING COUNSELOR TRAINING Bob Eslinger rob.esl@cox.net. Great Season Last Year Thanks to Your Support!!. Over 2.6 Million taxpayers helped Over 35,000 volunteers @ 6,500 sites Over 43,000 returns efiled in AZ Over 3,300 returns efiled in Dist 5

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WELCOME

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  1. WELCOME RETURNING COUNSELOR TRAINING Bob Eslinger rob.esl@cox.net

  2. Great Season Last Year Thanks to Your Support!! Over 2.6 Million taxpayers helped Over 35,000 volunteers @ 6,500 sites Over 43,000 returns efiled in AZ Over 3,300 returns efiled in Dist 5 Over 3,200 AZ returns efiled in Dist 5 You saved taxpayer ~$500,000

  3. 195 138 296 775 413 418 594 295

  4. AGENDA – RETURNING COUNSELOR TRAINING

  5. INTRODUCTIONS Name How long have you been with AARP? What site do you serve? What one question would you like answered?

  6. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide 2012-2013 FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS AARP FOUNDATION TAX-AIDE PROGRAM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AARP Tax-Aide 2008 - 2009 2012 - 2013 6

  7. Policy Training Requirement • To help ensure quality service and a confidential experience for the taxpayer, • To ensure compliance with program policies and IRS grant requirements, • As noted in the Policy Manual: All Volunteers, including Counselors, EROs, and Client Facilitators, are to be trained in AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program Policies and Procedures. AARP Tax-Aide 2008 - 2009 2012 - 2013 7

  8. Client Service Provider Digest Critical Sections of the Client Service Provider Digest for your attention: Site and Counselor Guidelines and Policies p19 Standards of Professionalism p9 Confidentiality and Security of Taxpayer Data p25 Activity Reporting p29 AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 8

  9. Volunteer Checklist • Secure Equipment and Tax Data • Have required Materials • Certify. Pass test, if a Counselor, IRS Standards of Conduct Test (all) • Follow key policies, e.g. IRS Standards of Conduct • Interview/Intake process for every Taxpayer • 100% Quality Review by 2nd Counselor • Close for the day; have and comply with a process for tracking all e-files through acceptance • Close for the season properly • Accurately Report Service Activity AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 9

  10. Secure Equipment and Tax DataMore info in Confidentiality and Security section of the Client Service Provider Digest Store equipment in secure environment Keep laptops and forms in a secure environment at all times during site operations Immediately notify your volunteer leader if a computer or forms with taxpayer data are stolen or lost; volunteer leader should immediately call police and number on back of volunteer badge Have passwords and antivirus on computers with Taxpayer data Computers that connect to the internet should also have firewall software installed Flash drives with encrypted software must be used on site-sponsored-owned computers Lock your computer if you step away Never post passwords on or near computer AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 10

  11. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and IRS Required Materials IRS Intake and Quality Review Forms, IRS 13614- C for every return prepared AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Tax Record Envelopes Cybertax messages identified as “IRS Volunteer Quality Alerts” IRS Pub. 17 IRS Pub. 4012 IRS 1040 Instructions All IRS documents above can be electronic stored on the computer. AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 11

  12. Certified Counselors • Pass the IRS Test through the Advanced level with 80% on each section - conduct, basic, intermediate and advanced • Assist with federal and state tax returns only within the scope of your training and certification • Not assist with tax returns where you are not comfortable and/or believe there is a reasonable likelihood you cannot prepare the return accurately (even if within your scope of training and certification) • Conduct an interview with the taxpayer to help ensure accuracy of the Intake form • Ensure the return is Quality Reviewed by another Counselor • Provide taxpayers with explanation of tax return as taxpayers retain responsibility of the accuracy of the return • Give the taxpayer one copy of their return plus the signed 8879 and all W2s, 1099s, etc. AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 12

  13. All Volunteers Must: Take this training and pass the IRS Standards of Conduct test Sign IRS Standards of Conduct statement Maintain confidentiality/security of data Never solicit business for self or others; never refer business to a specific paid preparer for out of scope returns Refuse any type of compensation or tips Assist taxpayers at sites, not at volunteer homes Serve customers with courtesy regardless of customer’s sex, race, age, religion, etc. AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 2012- 2013 13

  14. 100% Quality Review - All Returns The only acknowledged Quality Review (QR) is conducted by a second certified Counselor The second certified Counselor: Reviews source documents for data and Intake Sheets to ensure nothing missed (pay close attention to verify EINs to source documents to cut down on these rejects) Must have documented bank information when completing the return. Never take bank information over the phone. Checks off Quality Review boxes on the IRS Intake/Interview and Quality Review Form Initials TaxWise preparer use field 14 for QR. This must not be defaulted. AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 14

  15. Closing for the Day All forms must be returned to taxpayers at the end of their appointment (we no longer keep copies of the 8879, W2s, 1099s, etc.) EROs need to have and follow process to ensure all e-file returns are transmitted timely, rejects corrected & accepted or mailed by taxpayers to the IRS AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 15

  16. Closing for the Season Retention and mailing of Forms 8879, together with the taxpayer’s supporting W-2s and 1099 documentation, are no longer required by the IRS. These documents must be returned to the taxpayer. All taxpayer data must be deleted off all computers by the end of April (even if retention is allowed by taxpayer) Desktop Retained data is stored on media and by only one person in the state (ask your leader for name) Desktop AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 16

  17. Accurate Activity Reporting SIDN must be on every tax return E-filing sites must use the correct EFIN assigned to AARP Foundation Tax-Aide and record it on all returns Ensure all program activity is recorded on the Activity Reporting Log or other method as directed by your volunteer supervisor, including Q&A for taxpayers when questions are answered but a return is not prepared Use TaxWise preparer field 14 for reporting QR AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 17 2012 - 2013

  18. IRS Revenue Code 7216 Internal Revenue Code Section 7216 • The section provides penalties against tax return preparers who make unauthorized use or disclosure of tax return information • The IRS requires a very specific authorization process for taxpayers to approve use and disclosure of their data to others • AARP Foundation Tax-Aide does not need to use those procedures as staff and volunteers do not share specific data with anyone including VITA, banks, mortgage companies, others in AARP, etc. AARP Tax-Aide 2008 - 2009 2012- 2013 18

  19. What’s Required or New? • All sites, must post/display the AARP Poster that include “Your Civil Rights are Protected. Title VI” VI language (D143) • Quality Review Process includes designated/peer-to-peer - Self review is not allowed • LCs are required to complete the Intake/Interview and Quality Review training module in Link & Learn Taxes • Unique user names are strongly encouraged; however, if not used, a partner must have a process in place to identify every volunteer that prepared or made changes to a tax return AARP Tax-Aide 2008 - 2009 2012 - 2013 19

  20. Due Diligence • Due Diligence: • Certified volunteer preparer must exercise “due diligence” when preparing or assisting in the preparation, approving, and filing tax returns • “due diligence” means asking sufficient questions of the taxpayer to ensure a tax return is correct and complete. • Volunteers may rely in good faith without requiring certain documents from the taxpayer • Ask Questions: • Volunteer may not ignore information furnished to, or actually known by, the preparer • Preparer must ask questions if the information furnished appears to be incorrect, inconsistent, or incomplete • Taxpayers must be told they are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of the information on their return AARP Tax-Aide 2008 - 2009 AARP Tax-Aide 2008 - 2009 20

  21. Where you can go for help Your AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteer leader AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Client Service Provider Digest AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteer Extranet www.aarp.org/tavolunteers (for forms, guides, presentations, and other info) IRS Volunteer Hotline: 1-800-829-8482 IRS website: www.irs.gov IRS refund help: 1-800-829-1954 IRS Taxpayer Advocate: 1-877-777-4778 AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 21

  22. Thanks! Your contribution to taxpayers, the community, and to AARP Foundation deserves the highest praise. Thank you for all that you do. Remember to have some fun and thanks for being here for the program and for your community in 2013! AARP Tax-Aide 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 22

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