Suggested Defaults for Two 2009 (Draft)

SUGGESTED DEFAULT TEMPLATES FOR TWO 2009

December 28, 2009

For the latest defaults, check the AARP Tax-Aide Extranet at www.aarp.org/tavolunteers

This document contains many suggestions; local practices should prevail. There are actually very few “have to” settings. TaxWise Online uses the expression “Templates” in place of “Defaults” which we have used for years with the Desktop program.

The return templates may be set up or changed by any user that has been assigned this role. You may want to restrict this role to the Administrator and LC only. One may start from scratch or start with the Master presets, which were assigned by IRS/CCH.

You will first start by logging in to the admin user of TWO and selecting the Return Templates icon.

Select the New icon, fill in a short name, check the Make Default button, and select the 2009 Master Template entry from the drop down arrow. Click on the edit icon for the new template. This provides a good starting point, and the below changes are based on using the Master Template as a starting point.

The resulting forms tree will then be shown. One moves around by clicking on the desired form, which will then open for editing. When finished with a form just select the next desired form. Data is saved on the CCH servers as it is entered. In the following section dealing with adding or changing specific defaults on a form the following convention will be used:

·  Make Red means to press the Ctrl-spacebar while on an entry. It will insert a red underline for that entry, making it a required field in the selected form. (Same as using the F-3 key in the desktop version.

·  Undo Red means to press the Ctrl-spacebar to delete a red underline (it toggles the red underline).

·  Link means to click on an entry which will then show a small page icon with a green arrow. By clicking on that icon a new window will open. Select NEW from the bar at the bottom of the window and wait until a new form appears in the top of the window. You may have to select New a second time to display the form. Selecting this new form will allow placing defaults in it.

Note that one may add a new form by clicking the Add sign at the top. Forms can be deleted by highlighting the form with your cursor, then clicking the small “x” at the right portion of the entry.

The process of setting up the defaults is similar to that of the desktop version, and the defaults are almost identical.

It is beneficial to select F11 to provide a full screen. Selecting F11 a second time will return the Internet Explorer headers.

Note: It is a good idea to click the Save icon at the top frequently as you go through the defaults.

Setting Up Templates Part 1 – National Level

Main Information Sheet

·  Make Red the Present home address, Zip code, and Daytime Telephone number. (Reminder: While on each field press the Ctrl-Spacebar keys.)

·  State Information

Make no changes at this level. Requires user input later.

·  Self-Select and Practitioner PIN(s)

Leave the Taxpayer’s PIN field empty and red.

Make Red the “Date” field red on the line with the Taxpayer’s PIN.

Put an “X” in the “I authorize” box for the Taxpayer.

Put an “X” in the “I authorize” box for the Spouse.

·  Preparer Information

Leave the PTIN field empty and red.

Non-paid preparer indicator: Leave this field blank.

·  Preparer’s Use Fields

These fields are used for various purposes. Reports can be prepared using the information in these fields. The following are suggested uses for these Preparer’s Use Fields:

Field 1 – Make Red for use by the Preparing Volunteer’s Initials

Field 3 - This field was used through TY2008 for sites to record the taxpayers’ permission to retain taxpayer data. This field is no longer used in TY2009.

If you have more preparer fields that you want to track, repeat the above.

Preparer’s Use Fields 11 and 12 contain two new questions regarding a language other than English spoken in the home and a person in the household with disabilities. Asking these questions is optional for the AARP Tax-Aide program. If you are logged in as admin you can make these questions optional. Unlock them by clicking “unlock” on the blue entries at the top right portion of the form. Then:

o  Field 11: Undo Red in the answer field.

o  Field 12: Undo Red in the answer field.

For information, Fields 1 & 2 are 8 digit alpha-numerical, Field 3 is 20 digit alpha-numerical, Fields 4, 5 & 6 are 10 digit numerical, Field 7 is 3 digit alpha-numerical and Fields 8, 9,& 10 are 15 digit alpha-numerical.

·  Last lines on form: (Optional) Any text may be entered on the last lines of the form. You may want to use these lines to indicate your usage of the Preparer’s Use Fields, as we have for Fields 1 and 2.

·  This completes the Main Information Sheet. Select the next form.

8879 Declaration for Electronic Filing

·  Leave the “EFIN” field at the top of the form empty and red.

·  Scroll to “Electronic Return Originator (ERO) Information” at the bottom.

·  Click in “SSN” Field. Press F3 to remove the red. (No data to be entered)

·  Leave the “PTIN” field empty and red.

·  Make sure the “Print Signature” box is checked. This will print your site information on the Signature line.

·  Leave the “Firm’s Name” field empty and red.

·  Leave the “Firm’s Address” field empty and red.

·  Leave the “EIN” field blank.

·  Leave the “Zip Code” field empty and red.

·  Leave the “IRS Only” box checked and locked.

·  This completes the 8879 entries.

W-2 Wages

·  Undo Red Name Code (if possible)

·  Make Red Block 2, Federal Tax Withheld

·  Make Red Employer Name, address and zip.

·  Make Red Block 17, State Tax

·  Select the next form or worksheet.

Schedule A (& Itemized Deduction Detail & Sales Tax Worksheets)

·  Open “1040 PG 2” (Form 1040, page 2), and select the field for line 40 (Itemized deductions or Standard Deduction). Link , Select NEW, then Select “Sch A - Itemized deductions” to open it.

·  Select item 1, the link to a new “A Detail – Itemized Deduction Detail Worksheet” and open it.

·  On the “Itemized Deduction Detail Worksheet,” select the name field for the first line under “Other medical expenses” and Make Red this field. (This adds the Itemized Deduction Detail Worksheet to the forms tree.)

·  Save this form and select Schedule A.

·  On Line 5b General sales tax,

·  Undo Red from the field.

·  Link to NEW “Sales Tax worksheet” and open it.

·  Make Red in the “new vehicle sales tax” field on line 8a.

·  Save this worksheet and reopen Schedule A.

·  Under “Taxes You Paid,”

·  Make Red line 6, “Real Estate Taxes on your principal residence not listed above.”

·  On line 8, “Other taxes (including personal property tax)”, type PERSONAL PROPERTY. This will turn this the amount field red when saved.

·  Under “Interest You Paid,”

·  Make Red line 10, “Home Mortgage, interest expense and points, from Form 1098, not listed above.”

·  Select Schedule A, Page 2.

·  Undo Red on Line 1. (The Sales Tax Worksheet is used to enter the values on lines 1, 2, and 3.)

·  Select the next form or schedule.

Schedule B (& “Interest Stmt Interest Income” and “Dividend Stmt Dividend Income” Forms)

·  Select Schedule B.

·  Undo Red in the “Name” field on line 1a.

·  Select the next form or worksheet.

Schedule C-EZ

·  Select Schedule C-EZ.

·  Select “Gross Receipts” (line 1).

·  Link to a NEW “Miscellaneous Income from 1099 MISC.”

·  Open the 1099 MISC.

·  Undo Red on Box 2, Rent.

·  Make Red Box 7, Nonemployee compensation.

·  Select Schedule C-EZ

·  Select the next form or worksheet.

Schedule D and the Capital Gain/Loss Transaction Worksheet

·  Open “1040 PG 1”, and select the field for line 13 (Capital Gain {or Loss}).

·  Link to a NEW “Sch D pg 1 – Capital Gains and Losses Pg 1,” and open it.

·  Make Red the first description field below the “1a Description of property” column heading.

·  Reselect this same first description field and link to a NEW “Cap Gn Wkt - Capital Gain/Loss Transaction Worksheet.”

·  Make Red the first description field, and Select the next form or worksheet.

[The steps above add Schedule D and “Cap Gn Wkt Capital Gain/Loss Transaction Worksheet” to the forms for the return. If entries are not made on these forms, they will not be printed.]

·  Select the next form or worksheet.

1099-R Distributions from Profit Sharing, Retirement Plans, etc.

·  Make Red Box 1, “Gross (RRB line 7)”.

·  Make Red Box 4, “Federal tax withheld.”

·  Make Red Block 10, "State Tax

·  Select the next form or worksheet.

Social Security.

·  Select “1040 PG1.” Select line 20a (Social Security). Link and select a NEW “1040 Wkt1 – Social Security Other Income Worksheet.”

·  In the “Taxpayer” column, Make Red the field for “Social security received this year.”

·  In the “Taxpayer” column Make Red the field for “Medicare to Schedule A”

·  In the “Taxpayer” column, Make Red the field for “Federal tax withheld.”

·  Select the next form or worksheet.

8867 Paid Preparer's Earned Income Credit Checklist

·  Place an“X” the box at the top of form to indicate that AARP Tax-Aide preparers do not have to fill out this form.

·  Select the next form or worksheet.

Schedule EIC Worksheet

·  Click the “Add” notation at the top of the forms tree and type in EIC. From the resulting list select “Sch EIC Wkt” to add it to the tree.

·  Open the Sch EIC Worksheet.

·  “X” the “No” boxes for questions 18, 19 and 20.

·  Select the next form or worksheet.

F/S Tax PD Federal/State Taxes Paid

·  Select line 62 of 1040 pg 2, and link to a NEW “F/S Tax pd……”

·  In the “Date of Payment” column,

·  for payment 1, enter 04/15/2009;

·  for payment 2, enter 06/15/2009;

·  for payment 3, enter 09/15/2009;

·  for payment 4, enter 01/15/2010

·  Select the next form or worksheet

Code Section 7216 Compliance Forms:

·  Click on the “Gen Use” form that is on the forms tree. Remove this form by clicking on the small “x” that will be visible just to the right of the form name and select OK to remove the form.

·  Select and remove the “Gen Disclosure” form in a similar manner.

·  Select the next form or worksheet.

Price

·  Click on “Price” form in the forms tree. Remove this form in a similar manner as above.

IMPORTANT: When finished click on the “Save” icon in the top row, and finally click the “Close” icon when finished.

At this point, we have configured the TWO Templates to the National-level settings suggested by the NTC.

Suggested Template for TaxWise Online

National Technical Committee Page 1 of 5