1 NY3 INSTRUCTOR WORKSHOP 2011 TRAINING FOR 2011 WHAT’S NEW? WHAT’S CHANGING

1NY3 INSTRUCTOR WORKSHOP 2011

TRAINING FOR 2011

WHAT’S NEW?WHAT’S CHANGING

NY 3 INSTRUCTOR WORKSHOP 2011 2

OBJECTIVES

WHAT’S NEW STDS OF CONDUCT TAX LAW – FEDERAL & NEW YORK

WHAT’S CHANGING SCOPE CERTIFICATION ALTERNATE TRAINING

NY3 TRAINING PLAN


WHAT’S NEW ETHICS/STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

TRAINING TAX LAW

ENERGY CREDITS EXIST-NEW RULES NEW RULES FOR SALE OF ASSETS

FORM 8949 - NEW CREATED TO ENABLE TRACKING OF COST

BASIS–SALE OF CAPITAL ASSETS SCHED D – SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

LOCALLY – NEW LC TRAINING


STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

FOUND IN PUB 6744,Pages S-1 thru S-17

THIS FILE ADAPTED FROM NTTC TRAINING FILE


VOLUNTEER ETHICS

By law, preparers are required to exercise due diligence in preparation of tax returns

IRS has responsibility for oversight to protect tax program integrity and maintain taxpayer confidence


VOLUNTEER ETHICS

Volunteers can be removed, sites closed, IRS support & funds discontinued by IRS

Clients may be subject to examination, litigation or criminal penalties if false return


UNETHICAL DEFINED

IRS-SPEC defines unethical as not conforming to agreed standards of moral conduct, especially within a particular profession

In most cases, unethical behavior is acted upon with the intent to disregard the established laws, procedures, or set policies

An error or omission that was unknowing is not considered an unethical action



Form 13615, Volunteer Standards of Conduct Agreement, applies to all conduct and ethical behavior in VITA/TCE Program

ALL volunteers must agree to Standards of Conduct, pass a test & sign Agreement prior to working at a VITA or TCE site



Responsibility of all volunteers is to provide highest quality, best service to clients


SIX STANDARDS OF CONDUCT6744 Intro

1. Must follow Quality Site Requirements2. Must not accept payment or solicit donations

for federal or state tax return preparation3. Must not solicit business from clients or use

knowledge gained about them for direct or indirect benefit for self or others

May use aggregate data for promotion (e.g., # returns, schedules) but use of $

$ amounts prohibited except aggregate for fund-raising


SIX STANDARDS OF CONDUCT6744 Intro

4. Must not knowingly prepare false returns

5. Must not engage in criminal, infamous, dishonest, notoriously disgraceful conduct, or any other conduct deemed to have a negative effect on the VITA/TCE Program

6. Must treat all taxpayers in a professional, courteous, and respectful manner


FROM FORM 13615


RESIDENTIAL ENERGY CREDITS

CHANGES RESTRICTIONS


RESIDENTIAL ENERGY CREDITS

FORMERLY, 30% OF COST, UP TO $1500 FOR 2009 & 2010

MODIFIED TO BE RETROACTIVE TO 2006 MUST INCLUDE ANY CREDITS FROM

‘06 & ‘07 LIFETIME LIMIT $500.

$200 MAXIMUM FOR WINDOWS


NON-BUSINESS ENERGY PROPERTY CREDIT

MAXIMUM FOR RESIDENTIAL ENERGY PROPERTY PLACED IN SERVICE IN 2011.

10% OF COST UP TO: $50 FOR MAIN AIR CIRCULATING FAN $150 FOR QUALIFIED NATURAL GAS,

PROPANE, OR OIL FURNACE, OR HOT WATER BOILER

$300 FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDING PROPERTY


SCH D & FORM 8949

FORM 8949 INTRODUCED TO TRACK COST BASIS DETAIL

DETAILS FOR SALE OF ASSETS HERE

SCHEDULE D: SUMMARY OF DATA FROM FORM 8949

INPUT DATA IN TAXWISE VIA CAPITAL GAINS INPUT WORKSHEET



EXTENDERS – 2011

QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS (THRU 2011)

EDUCATOR EXPENSES DEDUCTION (THRU 2011)

TUITION AND FEES DEDUCTION (THRU 2011)


EXTENDERS - 2011 ITEMIZED DEDUCTION FOR

GENERAL SALES TAXES (THRU 2011)

NON-BUSINESS ENERGY PROPERTY CREDIT (WITH SOME LIMITATIONS) (THRU 2011)

PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE DEDUCTION (THROUGH 2011)


EXTENDERS - 2012 AMERICAN OPPORTUNITIES TAX

CREDIT (THRU 2012)

CHILD TAX CREDIT EARNED INCOME THRESHOLD OF $3,000

(THRU 2012)

EITC FOR THREE OR MORE QUALIFYING CHILDREN (THRU 2012)


NEW YORK

WHAT’S NEW?

TOOLS AVAILABLE


NEW YORK STATE DISABILITY INCOME EXCLUSION

LITTLE KNOWN LITTLE USED

UP TO $5200 CAN BE EXCLUDED IF AGI LESS THAN $15,000.

VERY LIMITED ELIGIBILITY

NEED TO ENSURE PEOPLE AWARE


SAME SEX MARRIAGE IMPACT

RULES GOVERNING MARRIED COUPLES APPLY

FED GOVERNMENT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE SAME SEX MARRIAGE


NEW YORK STATE MUST FILE TWO FEDERAL

RETURNS (SGL or HH): NYS RETURNS –(MFJ, MFS)

NO CAPABILITY IN TAXWISE

BOTTOM LINE:OUT-OF-SCOPE FOR NEW YORK STATE


NEW YORK STATE

4491-W: RETURNS COMPLETED FOR FED & NYS USING TW 2010

POSTED ON NY3 WEBSITE EXCEL SPREADSHEET LINE BY LINE RESULTS


HUGE THANK YOU

THE TEAM THAT WORKED ON THE RETURNS FOR NEW YORK STATE

DAVE AIKENSKAYE CURRYMARCIA LAPIERREBOB PARSONS


NEW LC TRAINING

CENTRALIZED TRAINING FOR NEW LC’S

SMT MEMBERS PROVIDE TRAINING ADMINISTRATIVE, NOT TECHNICAL TWO LOCATIONS

EAST GREENBUSH LIBRARY – 11/28 POUGHKEEPSIE –CATHOLIC CHARITIES

OFFICE – 11/30


NEW LC TRAINING

COURSE INCLUDES QUALITY SITE REQUIREMENTS ETHICS USE OF PORTAL SYSTEM OFFICE PLANNING SITE SET UP AND OPERATION END OF SEASON PROCEDURES


WHAT’S CHANGING SS LUMP SUM DISTRIBUTIONS

PRIOR YEAR CALCULATION NOW IN-SCOPE

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

ALTERNATIVE TRAINING OPTION

LOCALLY – COUNSELORS COMPLETE SIX PRACTICE

PROBLEMS


LUMP SUM SS PAYMENTS

Lump-sum social security payments included as Basic competency

Last year, only current year taxability in scope, but use of numbers from previous year returns in scope this year.

Requires prior year data.

Handled by Worksheets in TW


2011 Form 1099-SSA With Lump Sum Payment

• Total from Box 5 = $33,996

• Amount for 2010 = $12,948

• Amount for 2009 = $5,190

• Therefore, the amount for 2011 would be $15,858 ($33,996 - $12,948 - $5,190)

*Includes:$12,948.00 Paid in 2011 for 2010

$5,190.00 Paid in 2011 for 2009


CERTIFICATION PROCESS

COUNSELORSNON-COUNSELORS



NOTIFY TRS, ALSO.



NOTIFY TRS, ALSO.


FROM FORM 13615


REPORTING PROCESS

INSTRUCTORS WILL REPORT TO TRS I WILL MAINTAIN COMPLETE LIST I WILL FORWARD TO ADS & IRS ADS WILL UPDATE VMIS

INSTRUCTORS WILL NOTIFY DC/LC


GO TO FORM 13615


ALTERNATIVE TRAINING OPTION

APPROACH FOR THE FUTURESTARTING NOW


RECOMMENDATION

ALLOW VOLUNTEERS OPTION TO SELF-STUDY

NOT ABLE TO ATTEND CLASS

USE LINK & LEARN ONLINE TRAINING

TRAINING MANUALS AVAILABLE NY3 WEBSITE CAN BE DOWNLOADED


RECOMMENDATIONS TAXWISE ONLINE OR DESKTOP

WORKBOOK PROBLEM RESULTS AVAILABLE FOR FEDERAL AND STATE

PRACTICE LAB

TWO 2011 – READY BY 11/21 TWO 2010 TRAINING – UNTIL 1/31/12 PRACTICE LAB – NO STATE SOFTWARE


GUIDELINES PERMISSION FROM DISTRICT

COORDINATOR. REQUIRES SPECIAL SCHEDULING OF

CLASSES MUST ATTEND FOLLOWING CLASSES

POLICY & PROCEDURES IRS STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

NOT MORE THAN ½ TRAINING TIME – SELF STUDY


WHY DO THIS? ALLOW VIABLE PROGRAM FOR THOSE

WHO CANNOT ATTEND CLASS

SUPPORT NEEDS OF VOLUNTEERS FOR DIFFERENT TRAINING OPTIONS

SUPPORT SITES OPEN WKENDS & EVENINGS


WHY DO THIS?

CHANGE IN SOCIETY

INDIVIDUALS MORE MOBILE INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES MORE COMPUTER LITERATE USED TO LEARNING VIA COMPUTER


WHY DO THIS?

IRS CONSIDERATIONS

TIME FLEXIBILITY EMERGING TECHNOLOGY COST REDUCTION


NY 3 TRAINING PLAN

NEW VOLUNTEERS RETURNING VOLUNTEERS


OBJECTIVES

USE PROCESS BASED TRAINING METHODS

PROMOTE USE OF TAXWISE ONLINE TRAINING CERTIFICATION

INTRODUCE ETHICS TRAINING


OBJECTIVES TIME FOR PRACTICE

SIX PROBLEMS FROM WORKBOOK

INSTRUCTORS AND ALL COUNSELORS TAKE TEST ONLINE LINK & LEARN TWO or PRACTICE LAB

CENTRALIZED NEW LOCAL COORDINATOR TRAINING


REQUIREMENTS

INSTRUCTORS PROFICIENT WITH TAXWISE

USE OF TAXWISE FOR PRACTICE CLASSROOM HOME, IF FEASIBLE

REVIEW ALL COMPLETED PRACTICE PROBLEMS ACCURACY COMPLETENESS


REQUIREMENTS ALL COUNSELORS FAMILIAR WITH

USING PUB 4012 PUB 17 1040 & IT-201 INSTRUCTIONS

ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST PASS STANDARDS OF CONDUCT TEST

INSTRUCTORS AND COUNSELORS CERTIFIED PRIOR TO JAN 25th


QUALITY

FOCUS ON QUALITY REVIEW CONTINUES

QUALITY IS CRITICAL

100% QUALITY REVIEW 2ND CERTIFIED PERSON REVIEW ALL SITES “STRONGLY ENCOURAGED”

TO PERFORM QR ON COMPUTER


QUALITY

CONNECTION BETWEEN INTERVIEW AND QUALITY QR PERSON NEEDS TO TALK TO

CLIENT

SECTION C, FORM 13614 COMPLETE AND THREE BOXES CHECKED



QUALITY

PRACTICE RETURNS DEMO QUALITY REVIEW PROCESS

EACH VOLUNTEER SHOULD DO AT LEAST TWO QUALITY REVIEWS FOCUS ON SSN & EIN ACCURACY

QR COMPLETED ON COMPUTER DO NOT PRINT FOR QR


NEW VOLUNTEERS

36 HOURS CLASSROOM TRAINING

PROCESS BASED TRAINING TAX LAW INTERVIEW SKILLS TAXWISE SOFTWARE RETURN PREPARATION QUALITY REVIEW CLIENT REVIEW


NEW VOLUNTEERS REFERENCE MANUALS

PRACTICE RETURNS – SIX MINIMUM CLASSROOM HOME

POLICY and PROCEDURES

ETHICS/STANDARDS OF CONDUCT


RETURNING VOLUNTEERS

18 HOURS CLASSROOM TRAINING WHAT’S NEW

TAX LAW SOFTWARE

PROCESS CHANGES SCOPE CERTIFICATION

TECHNICAL REVIEWS


RETURNING VOLUNTEERS

PRACTICE RETURNS – SIX MINIMUM CLASSROOM HOME

POLICY and PROCEDURES

ETHICS/STANDARDS OF CONDUCT


SUMMARY

QUESTIONS??

COMMENTS??

Documents

1 NY3 INSTRUCTOR WORKSHOP 2011 TRAINING FOR 2011 WHAT’S NEW? WHAT’S CHANGING