404 538 4536

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AARP TAX-AIDE PROGRAMEssex County

Welcome & IntroductionsKen Hoffman

Essex County District CoordinatorNew Jersey State Coordinator973-731-5613 Cell 862-252-0004

e-mail: njtaxaide@comcast.net

Module NJ 2.0

www.NJTaxAide.org/tavolunteers

• Links to – AARP– IRS– NJ Division of Taxation Web Sites

• All training publications and other materials, slides and VOS

National Results

• Prepared 1.5M 2008 federal returns• 93% of federal returns were e-filed – up from 88%– Total paper returns dropped to about ~83K

• Assisted 2.6M clients• Processed returns totaling ~ $200M EIC• Prepared >1M state returns• 97% of clients recommend our service

New Jersey Statistics• 57,500 Taxpayers Helped• Prepared ~30,000 Federal returns• 903 volunteers (was 938 in CY2008)

– 725 Counselors– 156 Client Facilitators

• 187 Sites (was 235 in CY2008)• e-file ratio = 77% (up from 46% in 2005)

– All districts >40% e-file– Eight districts >80% e-file

• 77% Quality Review reported• Opening up Hudson County (Jersey City)• Closed Cape May and Cumberland Counties

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ESSEX– 90% E-FILE• Criteria For Margaret Dresher Awards:

– 50+ Electronic Filed Federal Returns– Ratio Of E-file /Total Returns:

• Bronze>40%, Silver>60%, Gold>80%, Diamond>90%

• CEDAR GROVE 98/101 97% DIAMOND• EAST ORANGE 354/377 94% DIAMOND• IRVINGTON 233/259 90% DIAMOND• LIVINGSTON 260/261 100% DIAMOND• MONTCLAIR PL 292/323 90% DIAMOND• NEWARK 115/125 92% DIAMOND• SOUTH ORANGE 79/81 98% DIAMOND• MONT UNITED WAY 407/429 95% DIAMOND• WEST ORANGE 47/136 35%

December Schedule• December 7-11 New Volunteer Training (Kent)• December 14th All Hands Meeting, TW09 available

– 2009 Tax Law Changes (Debt cancellation/mortgage foreclosure) – Discussion with illustrative examples to reinforce new requirements– Problems & Test Requirements

– Moore, Fleming and Sterling» Provide comments on these problems

– IRS Test using TW2009 on flash drives Test due: January 12th

– NJ Proficiency Test (Jones) –In class January 21st

• December 17th Review results/questions specific to Moore, Fleming and Sterling

January Schedule• January 11th Remaining Training including 2009 Updates

– General/Administrative (Expenses, Activity Sheets, Insurance etc– NJ Can Do/Cannot Do List, QR, Sign In Sheet, I&I Form, What’s new in TW,

NYS, When To and When Not to File, Client Facilitator Training• January 12th

– IRS– New Jersey Division of Taxation– IRS Exam Due w/Signed Code of Conduct

• January 13th

– Mentoring available at LCC regarding comprehensive [problems and IRS Test• January 21st and 22nd

– Common IRS Test errors/issues– NJ Proficiency – Jones Problem will be completed in class– Distribution of e-file equipment including NJ TW09

• Volunteer assignments

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Major On-Going Thrusts

• 100% Quality Review (by a second certified volunteer)

• Client Confidentially

• 100% use of Intake & Interview Sheet

• Activity Reporting

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NJ Counselor Certification Requirements

• STEP 1 - Complete Moore, Fleming and Sterling comprehensive problems in Pub 4491-W through Federal Tax Liability

• STEP 2 – Pass the IRS test with 80% for each segment (Basic, Intermediate and Advanced)

• STEP 3 – Sign the Volunteer Standards of Conduct

• STEP 4 – Complete the Jones Problem which is specific to NJ issues and is on our Web Site. This requires the 2009 NJ Tax Wise software

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What Is “In Scope”“In Scope” forms and schedules are ones which • Received training, feel comfortable doing AND are on• New Jersey “Can Do” List

• ONLY do New Jersey Returns unless trained for NY returns

Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 (S.543) Certified volunteers not liable provided

Acting within scope i.e. Items on the “NJ Can Do List” Harm not willful

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Quality Review

• 100% independent quality review– This means a second set of (counselor) eyes– This means no single counselor Sites– Site Coordinator has responsibility for implementation

• IRS & AARP SMT will do reviews on sample basis:– Site Review– Tax Return Review

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For Whom Can We Do Returns?

• Prepare tax returns for–Any age–Any income– Scheduling preference to clients over 60–Do not have to be AARP member

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PUBLICATIONS & TOOLS

• Publication 4012, Volunteer Resource Guide (VRG)• Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax• New Jersey “Can Do” List

• Site Sign-In-Sheet & Activity Report• Interview and Intake Sheet• Form 1040 Form/Instructions• GIT Booklets – State of NJ

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Client FacilitatorsA Very Important Asset To Any Site

• Not required to pass test• Reports to Site Coordinator• Facilitates Intake Process• Organize Clients papers– Check to be sure that everything is there

• Can work in conjunction with counselor– Assist in data entry by reading and checking data

• Can do PTR’s• Eligible for flat rate or itemization of mileage

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INSURANCE COVERAGE

• Travel accident insurance coverage if on Tax-Aide business

• Insurance is supplemental to Medicare or its equivalent and covers medical expenses and/or death only. It does not cover personal property such as cars, computers etc

• Notify District Coordinator ASAP

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Introduce Yourself

• Please state your name and your experience with the Tax Aide Program

The End

Questions, Comments?