Transcript Slide 1
Technology Update
Regional Meetings– Nashville
October 2010
Bob Willis – NTC Chairman
Regional Meetings
–
Nashville 2010
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Technology Update
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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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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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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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
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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Nashville 2010
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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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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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