A TC’s success story

Universities and colleges can equal rural success

As SPEC continues its efforts to help more taxpayers in rural communities, the RM and 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

Senior Tax Consultant Kenneth Brown shares his Southwest Georgia rural success story 

Describe to us your geographic area and current partnership base.

I am a Senior Tax Consultant, managing one of the larger coalitions in the Atlanta Territory. Working in the Savannah, GA POD, I always get to use my consultative skills to create new partnerships and promote free-tax preparation in our territory. Our small team work actively together in our rural areas to increase productivity and support.

How did your rural success story begin?

I received a call from a former partner at the local university, extending an invitation to come to a “Meet the Firms” event.  During this event, we had the opportunity to market VITA and other free-tax prep options to more than 40 local firms. Coincidentally, we had a scheduled meeting at the university for the next day and took the liberty to invite some of the employers who were at this meeting to come to our meeting. During our meeting, we targeted three rural locations:  Valdosta, Albany and Tifton, Georgia. All three rural areas have universities who ultimately agreed to train their students to become certified for the upcoming filing season.

What steps did you take next?

We began the process to successfully set up sites remotely and face-to-face. We obtained EFINS, ordered software and certified student volunteers at two locations.

How long did it take you to work this opportunity?

It took two months during the pre-filing season to prepare the partners and sites to be ready for the filing season.

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

The collaboration with a current VITA partner was a key element. That relationship allowed us the opportunity to host a meeting where we shared best practices and economic impact data (EID) for all three communities. Using information directly from SPEC’s return database, E-file, and TaxSlayer Reports allowed us to show attendees key information such as refund data in their areas, including EITC dollars. We also shared the potential savings of tax return preparation costs when using our free tax prep services. Presenting this information sparked an interest with the attending professors, and they agreed to share this information at their community meetings. Also, two of the universities agreed to incorporate VITA into their class curriculum next filing season, to ensure they will always have a pool of certified volunteers.

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

Many of the universities and/or colleges have programs or career days where 30 to 40 employers are invited. TCs/RMs can check with their local colleges or coalition partner to determine if they can participate in these outreach sessions to market the free-tax programs.

Any other information you’d like to add:

Coalition building in rural communities is essential.  Beginning with the colleges and universities is a great start to build your program and volunteer base. If not already established, this will be a great time to work on a partnership with the colleges, universities and employers in the rural communities and other locations.

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)

• Ability to sort the Transmission columns
• SSN under Review Returns will be masked if the user cannot view full SSN

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.

Navigate to Other Taxes and Select Begin on the following item:

Select if the form belongs to the Taxpayer or Spouse (in this screenshot, there was only a taxpayer)

Click Contiinue

Complete the Employer section

Select the appropriate reason:

Click Continue

Feature:

Adding the ability to complete Form 2120 from the application

Instructions:

Select the following question when completing the Dependent/Qualifying person information

Click Continue

Complete the information for each person that provided at least 10%, but no more than 50% of the support that have agreed not to claim the listed individual as a dependent.

The 2120 Summary page will display the taxpayers that will be listed on Form 2120

The form will print with the return

Blog posted 05/23/2018

The Save and Enter Another button will be added to the following entry pages:

• W-2
• Interest Income
• Dividend Income
• Schedule B Other Interest
• 1099-R
• RRB-1099-R
• W-2G

Purpose:

Allows the preparer to open a blank entry screen without having to go back to the summary page when entering income information.

Benefits:

• Quick Data input
• Allows the preparer to enter multiple income documents when using Taxpayer Profiles
• Allows the preparer to enter multiple income documents when using the Quick File feature

Note:  Selecting Continue will take you to the Income Summary Screen

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)

• 1040NR: Load Schedule OI while in Taxpayer Information
• 1040NR:  Carry data from schedule OI to Form 8843
• Add a Save and Enter another button to make repeat entries easier for the following
  • W-2 entry page
  • Interest Income entry page
  • Dividend Income entry page
  • 1099-Entry entry page

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.

We will be placing the site in maintenance on Tuesday, May 15th at 5:00am ET to release a series of updates.   This is a change from the original post on Friday.

• 1040-PR using 1040 – Phase I released: Added the “Taxable Earned Income for Form 8812” entry field within the Credits menu. This allows users with 2 qualifying dependents or less to adjust the applicable earned income to calculate CTC/ACTC
• Zip Code Update
  • 99354 – Richland, WA (Issue #1980)
• 1040-NR/Schedule OI – Text update within the “Travel Dates” menu to clarify only travel dates specific to the current filing year should be provided
• GA – Remove the automatic e-mail pre-fill entry within GA Basic Information (Issue #2000)
• KS – Correct an issue where excluded SSS disability income was not removed from K-40H household income calculation (Issue #407)
• MI – Correct a PDF display issue where the percentage entry for Veteran Disability (1040-CR2) was not carrying to the return (Issue #1991)
• VT – Correct a PDF display issue where the Form 144 entries for additional household members (if more than 2) were not carrying to a new statement in the PDF (Issue #1999)

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.