Transcript Slide 1

Technology Update
Regional Meetings– Nashville
October 2010
Bob Willis – NTC Chairman
Regional Meetings
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Nashville 2010
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Technology Update
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Depot Laptops
TrueCrypt Upgrade
Tune-up, Upgrades & Images
Updating the Extranet & Documents
TCS Conference Calls
TaxWise 2010 Enhancements
TaxWise On-Line (TWO) & Networking
 New TWO Wireless Options
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Nashville 2010
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Depot Laptops
 Computer Image
 Most of our suggested changes to the image
were made
 Tune-Up Document is on the Extranet
 Some IRS Computers have wireless
capability
 Wireless will be enabled if computer has it
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Nashville 2010
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TrueCrypt Upgrade
 A TrueCrypt Upgrade in beta-test
 Uses Current TrueCrypt ver. 7.0
 Ver. 7.0 will open prior TC Versions
 In addition to Password Change
Utility, there is now Utility to
Change Volume Size
 Upgrade will be Recommended for all
Tax-Aide Computers
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Tune-ups, Upgrades & Images
 Re-Image AARP Tax-Aide Computers
 Propose re-imaging (Windows XP) on the
HP 6110s & 6310s this year
 Very low cost
 Consistent national image – much
easier than the multipage tune-ups
Finalizing Image contents and will make available
for Beta Testing soon
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Nashville 2010
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Tune-ups, Upgrades & Images
 Windows 7 Upgrades
 Suggest upgrading Dell Vostro 1520
this year
 TechSoup Win 7 software costs $8
 No additional memory required
 Tax-Aide can provide an image to avoid
have to individually reinstall the software
programs
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Updating Extranet & Documents
 Revising Technology Tab of Extranet
 Will feature an Index with links to
specific subjects and documents.
 Both Guidelines and How-To documents
will be included.
 Will not include the TMG, just the
topics. (it was not printed last year)
 How-to and other documents are
being updated. Some already posted.
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TCS Conference Calls
 Started a series of monthly TCS
conference calls in September
 September call was on TrueCrypt and
TWO Wireless Options
 October will be on Tune-ups, Imaging
and more TWO Wireless
 Topics for future calls will be solicited
from the participants
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Nashville 2010
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TaxWise 2010 and Support
 Beta Testing of TaxWise 2010.
Selected members of NTC will be Beta
testing the new software during 1st week
of October
 Access to Higher Level Support
Selected members of the NTC will have direct
access to CCH Technical Support for questions
submitted through [email protected]
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Nashville 2010
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TaxWise 2010 Enhancements
 We don’t have a formal response to our
TaxWise Enhancement request, but
most TWO requests have been made to
TaxWise 2010
 Becoming compliant with the new IRS
processing system - Modernized eFile
(MeF) is a major task for TaxWise 2010
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TaxWise 2010 Enhancements
 Three additional Preparer Use Fields are
added to the Main Information Sheet in both
Desktop and TWO. One of which will be used
for our national reporting of QR.
 Override can be disabled at preparer level
Desktop Changes
 Interactive Interview. The preparer can
toggle back and forth between the Interview
and the Tax Forms.
 CCH claims the Modem Communication
problems are resolved.
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TaxWise 2010 Enhancements
TWO Changes
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Contact Sensitive Help will be available
Time-out Reminder 5 min. before shut down
New User Roles added - Reviewer, E-file Manager
New Hot Keys for…
 Move Curser to next Entry
 Insert & Remove Rows - Statements & Worksheets
 User defined Printing of State Forms
 Custom Templates for tax form Defaults
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Networking & TWO
 Interest nationally in TWO still
appears to be high
 Still need to Promote more use of
both TWO and Networking
 TWO ‘Promo’ bulletin was released
last month - they include:
 Desktop vs. TWO Comparison
 Updated TWO FAQs
 New TWO Wireless Overview
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Nashville 2010
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Networking & TWO
 Promote at State Meetings
 If TWO is not an option you should
Network sites with 2 or more
computers
 Use TWO Training and Practice Lab
websites to Practice Online
 Prior year TWO Training website has
State software for practicing
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Advantages of TaxWise Online
 Reduced Tax Preparation Burden
 No installation on individual computers
program maintained on CCH server
 No updates required – updated by CCH
 No need to backup, restore or transmit
returns – data already at CCH
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Advantages of TaxWise Online
 Improved Security
 No data stored locally on individual computers secured facility stores all data
 Intrusion detection – CCH uses software to
reduce threat of hackers
 Access from any computer with proper
identification and Broadband Internet
 Immediate availability – nothing to install
 Ideal for Using Site Provided Equipment
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Advantages of Networking
 Reduced Tax Preparation Burden
 Fewer computers to setup and maintain
 Eliminates need to copy returns from
multiple computers for transmission
 Provides easy method to print from all
computers
 Improved Security
 Fewer computers with taxpayer data
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2009 Network & TWO Survey
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2009 Network & TWO Survey
 Overall results showed almost 2/3rds of
sites still use standalone computers.
 Wide variation by State and Region
States 0% to 100% - Regions 3% to 56%
 Others Network for Printing
 Next step to Network TaxWise is easy.
 Ratio needs to be flip-flopped
 Your Volunteers will Thank You for making
their job easier.
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2009 Network & TWO Survey
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2009 Network & TWO Survey
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2009 Network & TWO Survey
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Nashville 2010
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2009 Network & TWO Survey
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Wireless TWO for TaxWise 2010
Wireless TWO for TaxWise 2010
 Can Use a site’s unsecured wireless
signal.
 Router recommended (but not required)
 It can be locally provided and
programmed.
 AARP Tax-Aide and IRS provided laptops
can be used without restrictions.
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Wireless TWO for TaxWise 2010
 NEW Personal, donated and site provided
computers only require two simple on-line
security scans to qualify for use.
 Norton Security Scan (scans for malware
& general vulnerability to hackers)
 Secunia Online Software Inspector
(OSI), (insures that security related
programs are up to date)
 Both scans run in Seconds, and nothing is
actually installed on the computer
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Technology Update - Summary
 Encryption is a Must for all computers
with taxpayer data
 Encourage the use of new Images and
Win 7 to update AARP provided Computers
 Promote and Encourage more sites to use
TWO, and Network when TWO is not an
option
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Technology Update
QUESTIONS ???
Thank You
Bob Willis – NTC Chairman
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