Partner mentoring leads to rural success

As SPEC continues its efforts to help more taxpayers in rural communities, the RM & partner success stories are building too. The goal is to share as many of these stories as possible, with the premise that they may possibly help others expand their reach in rural areas.

Here’s a rural success story from Tax Consultant Therese (Tess) Armstrong

Describe to us your geographic area and current partnership base.

As the sole SPEC Relationship Manager in Maine, my territory covers the entire state – which is large enough to fit the five other New England states within its geographic borders.

How did your success story begin?

Back in 2008, Maine’s rural strategy plan included expansion into rural Aroostook County, and in partnership with AARP Tax-Aide, a VITA program was proposed at a presentation to local officials in Presque Isle.

What steps did you take next?

Three years after that initial presentation, United Way of Aroostook contacted me about establishing the Aroostook CA$H VITA coalition. Also, as initially proposed, program leaders were encouraged and agreed to volunteer with AARP Tax-Aide to obtain experience in tax preparation, site operation, and to learn the Quality Site Requirements necessary to run a successful VITA site.

How long did it take you to work this opportunity?

The saying, “never give up” is so true. It was five years from the time I initially presented my proposal to Stakeholders in Aroostook County and the actual establishment of their successful VITA program in 2013.

In your opinion, what were the key actions that made this turn out successfully?

Mentoring with AARP Tax-Aide of Maine provided Aroostook CA$H with an understanding of the complexities of operating a VITA site. Aroostook CA$H mentored with AARP Tax-Aide of Maine for one filing season. The next filing season the coalition successfully e-filed 151 federal tax returns, easily surpassing their initial set goal of 50 minimum tax returns. During the 2018 filing season, the coalition e-filed more than 700 federal tax returns.

Consistent leadership and enthusiastic support from United Way of Aroostook (and its board members) has also been integral toward the program’s success.

What advice would you give to fellow TCs/RMs to gain additional successes?

Positive reinforcement and quickly responding to your partner’s questions and concerns is instrumental in your partner’s continued engagement.

Other information:

The program has expanded to Fort Kent, Maine (on the Canadian Border) and Houlton Maine, but it took years to find the ideal sites in those locations. In 2017, County Federal Credit Union joined Aroostook CA$H and expanded the volunteer base to include 21 new Asset Building Coaches.

There are two spreadsheets

• Spreadsheet #1:  Dedicated to application and federal suggestions
• Spreadsheet #2: Dedicated to State suggestions

An example of the status column can be found by Tracking ID 269372 (Ctrl+F allows you search in the document)

Below are some of the items that we have committed to completing (We are still reviewing all requests and there will be more commitments coming your way)

• Display AGI
• Add the following Federal Forms
  • Form 8919
  • Form 2120
  • Form 4835
  • Preparer Explanation Forms
• Ability to print the state from the State Summary page (already live)
• Ability to return to the 1040 view if you link from the 1040 view (already live)

More exciting changes to come.

We are still reading through and analyzing the suggestions.  We are also beginning to update the Status column as we commit to implement a suggestions.

Click here to view PDF

The link will launch a Brainshark video with instructions on how to view the file.

There are two spreadsheets

• Spreadsheet #1:  Dedicated to application and federal suggestions
• Spreadsheet #2: Dedicated to State suggestions

An example of the status column can be found by Tracking ID 269372 (Ctrl+F allows you search in the document)

What’s Trending:

• Enable prior year comparison
• Easier way to add multiple interest and dividend entries

We are still reading through and analyzing the suggestions.  We are also beginning to update the Status column as we commit to implement a suggestions.

Click here to view PDF

The link will launch a Brainshark video with instructions on how to view the file.

Suggestion from Volunteer

If you have a reject for EIN or SS Number highlighted the incorrect number in red. We have many clients that have multiple children, W-2s. and/or 1099-R.

TaxSlayer Recommendation

There are several ways in the software to make this determination.

(1) click the word Reject under the status column to display the rejected value

(2) Selecting Client Status from the tools drop down on the Client List will display the reject value and

(3) the IRS acknowledgement will display the reject value.  This is typically the last 4 digits of the rejected SSN or the EIN if it is a 1099R or W2 getting rejected.

Suggestion from Volunteer

Would like ability to arrange Reports Categories in the order that I use them. I use “Transmissions”, then make a PDF in “Returns Transmitted”. Later I check “IRS Acknowledgements” and make a PDF copy. Scrolling through the list to get to Returns Transmitted is annoying. Putting it after IRS acknowledgements would be helpful. Or, giving us the ability to customize the list would be nice.

TaxSlayer Recommendation

Proposal:  Allow the site administrator to manage the reports that are available for use under the Reports tab and in what order they are displayed.

Tracking ID 269580

Status:  Committed

Implementation Plans

This feature will be available at the site level only.

We will be adding an option to Security Templates that allow the site administrator to enable the ability to edit the report listing.

The user that has the option enabled will be able to limit the reports that are displayed under Reports on the Welcome page.  They can also order the reports to better fit the workflow of their sites.

This is scheduled to be delivered the week of April 30th.

This week we have split the responses into two spreadsheets.

• Spreadsheet #1:  Dedicated to application and federal suggestions
• Spreadsheet #2: Dedicated to State suggestions

An example of the status column can be found by Tracking ID 269372 (Ctrl+F allows you search in the document)

What’s Trending:

• Allow advanced filter options
• Display Federal AGI
• Add the ability to sort transmission columns

We are still reading through and analyzing the suggestions.  We are also beginning to update the Status column as we commit to implement a suggestions.

Click here to view PDF

The link will launch a Brainshark video with instructions on how to view the file.

• CALIFORNIA – 4/18/18

We received the following message from California:

“Greetings,

The IRS has allowed an additional day to file and pay taxes following IRS system issues that surfaced early on the April 17 tax deadline.  Because California taxpayers must generally complete their federal return before their California return can be filed, FTB will follow federal announcement IR-2018-100, April 17, 2018.  Individuals and businesses with a filing or payment due date of April 17 will now have until midnight on Wednesday, April 18th.  Taxpayers do not need to do anything to receive this extra time.

California provides an automatic six-month extension to October 15^th available to taxpayers who need additional time to file. Any tax due must still be paid by April 18^th.”

• IDAHO – 4/18/18

We received the following message from Idaho:

“BOISE, IDAHO — April 18, 2018 — The Idaho State Tax Commission is providing taxpayers an extra day to file and pay their 2017 income taxes. Taxpayers have until the end of Wednesday, April 18 to file and pay their income taxes without penalty. 

The IRS announced a one-day extension for filing federal returns due to problems with its e-filing system for much of the April 17 tax deadline. This also affected e-filing for Idaho returns. As a result, Idaho is following the extended federal deadline. The extended deadline applies to returns and payments filed by paper or electronically.”

• NEBRASKA – 4/18/18

We received the following message from Nebraska:

“On Tuesday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that it is providing taxpayers an additional day to file and pay their federal income taxes. Income tax filers with a filing or payment due date of April 17, 2018, will now have until midnight on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, to file and pay their federal individual income taxes. The Nebraska Department of Revenue is required by law to follow the federal due dates. Therefore, the deadline for Nebraska individual income tax returns and payments has also been extended to April 18, 2018″.

• OHIO – 4/18/18

We received the following message from Ohio:

“This email is to advise you that Ohio’s error code OHIND-046 “You are attempting to file an IT1040 return after the filing deadline, but did not indicate if you are filing federal extension form 4868.” was issued yesterday in error.  Users should not have been required to answer the question until today, the day after the filing deadline.

Impacted users should resubmit their Ohio returns and provide a yes or no answer to the question to indicate if they filed a federal extension.  A “no” (or false) answer will be accepted without penalty for returns filed today, or within the 5 day perfection period for rejected returns.  After today, a yes or no answer will still be required and accepted with standard consequences for late filing.

Ohio will be following the IRS and extending the due date to file and pay from 4/17 to 4/18.  However, even with the extended deadline, the federal extension question must be answered today.

We apologize for the inconvenience, please respond to this email with any questions.”

• SOUTH CAROLINA – 4/18/18

We received the following message from South Carolina:

“Following system outages, the IRS is allowing taxpayers an additional day (until April 18) to file federal income tax returns. The SCDOR will also allow taxpayers this additional day to file state income tax returns. As in the past, South Carolina’s electronic filing incentive gives individuals until May 1 to file state income tax returns electronically and pay any balance due without penalty.”

• UTAH – 4/18/18

We received the following message from Utah:

“The IRS announced a one-day extension for filing federal returns due to computer problems at the IRS. Similarly, the Utah State Tax Commission announced that it will allow an additional day for taxpayers to file and pay their 2017 state income taxes. Taxpayers will have until 11:59pm on Wednesday, April 18th, to both pay and file their state returns without penalty.”

IRS  Provides Additional Day to File and Pay for Taxpayers through Wednesday, April 18;

IRS processing systems back online

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service announced today that it is providing taxpayers an additional day to file and pay their taxes following system issues that surfaced early on the April 17 tax deadline. Individuals and businesses with a filing or payment due date of April 17 will now have until midnight on Wednesday, April 18. Taxpayers do not need to do anything to receive this extra time.

The IRS encountered system issues Tuesday morning. Throughout the system outage, taxpayers were still able to file their tax returns electronically through their software providers and Free File. Taxpayers using paper to file and pay their taxes at the deadline were not affected by the system issue.

“This is the busiest tax day of the year, and the IRS apologizes for the inconvenience this system issue caused for taxpayers,” said Acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter. “The IRS appreciates everyone’s patience during this period. The extra time will help taxpayers affected by this situation.”

The IRS advised taxpayers to continue to file their taxes as normal Tuesday evening – whether electronically or on paper. Automatic six-month extensions are available to taxpayers who need additional time to file can visit https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return.