| Federation
of Tax Administrators 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., #348 Washington, D.C. 20001 Ph. (202) 624-8443/Fax (202) 624-7888 |
News Release for immediate release |
(Washington ,
D. C., March 15, 2006) The Federation of Tax Administrators announced today
that the California Franchise Tax Board has won the 2006 Leon Rothenberg Award
for Taxpayer Service and Education for its ReadyReturn program.
This award is named for the long-time FTA Executive Director, and is made to
state revenue departments for outstanding programs in taxpayer service and education.
Judges honored three programs: California in the category of Innovation; South
Carolina for its one-stop registration system in the category of Burden Reduction;
and Iowa for its e-filing strategy in the category of Most Impressive Result.
California was singled out as having the overall “best in show”
program.
Presentation of the award will take place at the FTA Annual Meeting on June
5 in Little Rock, Arkansas. California has also been invited to make a presentation
on the program during the annual meeting.
The FTB’s ReadyReturn program is a pilot program designed to make filing
easier for the taxpayers who file the simplest returns. The FTB sends selected
taxpayers a letter of invitation along with a completed tax return.
These preselected taxpayers have previously filed using a single filing status,
taking the standard deduction, have income derived only from wages (which are
reported to the FTB by employers), have no dependents and claim no special credits.
The invitation explains how to make any necessary changes to the return and
what to do if the taxpayer doesn’t want to participate. Taxpayers who
choose to accept the ReadyReturn can file the paper return provided by the FTB
or they can e-file it from the agency’s website.
Twenty-two percent of those mailed a ReadyReturn filed it. Of those participating,
95 percent said they were satisfied with the program and would use it again.
Judges cited a number of aspects of the program, but were particularly pleased
with its innovative approach. They commented, “This is just what we need”
and “it’s in the public’s best interest.” One added:
“It’s not that tough to do, technologically, but it’s definitely
something other states should know about.”
The entries were judged by an independent panel consisting Delena Bratton of
Fast Enterprises/Gentax, Clare Calaby of the Internal Revenue Service and Steve
Roll of the BNA Tax Management, Inc.
The Federation of Tax Administrators is a nonprofit organization comprised of
the tax and revenue departments of the 50 states, the District of Columbia,
and New York City. Its mission is to improve the standards and methods of tax
administration.
####
SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
HONORED FOR
FTA TAXPAYER SERVICE AND EDUCATION AWARD
(Washington , D. C., March 15, 2006) The Federation of Tax Administrators announced
today that the South Carolina Department of Revenue one-stop registration system
was named winner of the Burden Reduction category of 2006 Leon Rothenberg Award
for Taxpayer Service and Education.
This award is named for the long-time FTA Executive Director, and is made to
state revenue departments for outstanding programs in taxpayer service and education.
Judges honored three programs: South Carolina for its one-stop registration
system in the category of Burden Reduction; Iowa for its e-filing strategy in
the category of Most Impressive Result; and California for its ReadyReturn program
in the category of Innovation. California was cited for having the overall “best
in show” program.
Presentation of the awards will take place at the FTA Annual Meeting on June
5 in Little Rock, Arkansas.
South Carolina’s submission, “South Carolina Business One Stop –
Helping Do Business in South Carolina,” is a collaborative effort with
state, federal and local agencies as well as private businesses and associations.
The result is a one-stop business portal for registering new businesses and
performing associated electronic filings and transactions within South Carolina.
(The portal is found at http://www.scbos.com.)
South Carolina Business One Stop uses a “wizard” concept as a data
collection mechanism. The wizard walks the business taxpayer through the application
by asking simple questions. The wizard allows information sharing to minimize
the data collection process. Duplicate information does not have to be entered
and there is no prompting for unnecessary information.
Through One Stop, the Department of Revenue eliminated agency errors from misread
or illegible written applications and from agency-to-agency transfer of joint
registration information. The registration process now requires two days instead
of 30, ensuring real-time completion of license, permit and registration requirements
before they are electronically submitted to each agency.
Judges cited a number of aspects of the program, but were particularly pleased
with the extraordinary intergovernmental coordination involved, saying “We
should give this one the award for Mission Impossible.” Explained one:
“This is a hard effort. It’s not a new concept but just look how
they pulled it off. They did a good job of organizing it and measuring it.”
Another added, “I loved the focus on the customer. Reducing the time needed
to register a business from 30 days to two – terrific. Getting that many
agencies together – impossible.”
The entries were judged by an independent panel consisting Delena Bratton of
Fast Enterprises/Gentax, Clare Calaby of the Internal Revenue Service and Steve
Roll of the BNA Tax Management, Inc.
The Federation of Tax Administrators is a nonprofit organization comprised of
the tax and revenue departments of the 50 states, the District of Columbia,
and New York City. Its mission is to improve the standards and methods of tax
administration.
####
IOWA
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
HONORED FOR
FTA TAXPAYER SERVICE AND EDUCATION AWARD
(Washington , D. C., March 15, 2006) The Federation of Tax Administrators announced
today that the Iowa Department of Revenue eFile & ePay program was named
winner of the Most Impressive Result category of 2006 Leon Rothenberg Award
for Taxpayer Service and Education.
This award is named for the long-time FTA Executive Director, and is made to
state revenue departments for outstanding programs in taxpayer service and education.
Judges honored three programs: Iowa for its e-filing strategy in the category
of Most Impressive Result; South Carolina for its one-stop registration system
in the category of Burden Reduction; and California for its ReadyReturn program
in the category of Innovation. California was cited for having the overall “best
in show” program.
Presentation of the awards will take place at the FTA Annual Meeting on June
5 in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Iowa wanted to build on its successful individual e-file program to develop
an e-filing option for businesses. The goal was to make it easier for taxpayers
to file business tax returns and increase compliance – without mandates.
The Department of Revenue established an eFile Service Unit within Taxpayer
Services and launched an e-commerce study that resulted in the eFile & Pay
service. Today withholding, sales and use taxes, and the Liquified Petroleum
Gas tax are filed and paid electronically, with new capabilities soon to be
launched.
Iowa achieved its goal with education (teaching businesses the necessary skills
to eFile) and marketing (encouraging businesses to buy into the concept). The
agencywide effort included providing extra phone help, modification of files
for the website, creating PowerPoints, arranging for special proofing and editing
of all correspondence, informational e-mails and postcards, and news conferences.
Special letters were mailed to each Business eFile Number holder the month that
specific tax became eligible for eFile & ePay. Businesses that transmitted
information by phone instead of the Internet heard special scripts that detailed
each step of the process. Reminder letters went out to businesses that had not
set up profiles as the first quarterly due date drew near. The agency put copies
of all unsensitive correspondence online to make sure as much information as
possible was available to all.
Paper withholding and sales tax returns are no longer mailed to businesses,
although they are available on the website. Paper payment vouchers are available
for those who e-file but want to pay with a paper check; the vouchers have a
scan line to ensure the money is credited to the correct account for the correct
period.
The withholding program has been available for a year and the sales tax program
has been available for six months. The agency hoped to have 70 percent of quarterly
withholding and sales tax returns filed electronically; instead, 90 percent
are arriving through the eFile system.
Judges cited a number of aspects of the program, but were particularly pleased
with the agency’s ability to attract participants. Said one: “They’re
making it happen, and without mandates. It’s a good time for other states
to ask them how they did it.”
The entries were judged by an independent panel consisting Delena Bratton of
Fast Enterprises/Gentax, Clare Calaby of the Internal Revenue Service and Steve
Roll of the BNA Tax Management, Inc.
The Federation of Tax Administrators is a nonprofit organization comprised of
the tax and revenue departments of the 50 states, the District of Columbia,
and New York City. Its mission is to improve the standards and methods of tax
administration.
####
MICHIGAN WINS FTA TRAINING AWARD
(Washington , D. C., March 15, 2006) The Federation of Tax
Administrators announced today that the Michigan Department of Treasury, Revenue
Division has won the 2006 FTA Award for Training for its Mandatory Employee
Disclosure Training program.
The Award is made to a state revenue agency for a program that has demonstrated
excellence in training.
Judges honored three programs: Washington State for its web-based, continuous-learning
workshops and tutorials in the Best Use of Technology category; North Carolina
for its Guest Worker Compliance Program in the Taxpayer Training category; and
Michigan in the category of Internal Training. Michigan was cited for having
the overall “best in show” program.
Presentation of the Training Award will take place at the FTA Annual Meeting
on June 5 in Little Rock, Ark. Michigan also has been invited to make a presentation
on the program during the annual meeting.
Michigan Treasury must assure that all employees with access to confidential
taxpayer data clearly understand the strict nature of the disclosure laws and
are skilled with all procedures used to protecting data. Disclosure training
has long been required for department employees, but Michigan officials recognized
they was dealing with changing business landscape, which includes increasing
technology support from third-party contractors, and that there were never-before-seen
concerns over identity theft. At the same time, budget resources were limited
and staff had been reduced.
Michigan responded by creating a multi-phased disclosure awareness training
package. The package is evolving to service not only Treasury employees but
employees of other state agencies, contractual employees, vendors and others
who may be lawfully allowed to come in contact with protected information.
The heart of the strategic training package is a carefully designed online training
module, the first department-specific training course of its type. While the
module is a replica of the training outline used in classroom teaching, it allows
the user the choice of walking through the basics or delving deeper into specific
areas.
The online class is comprehensive, provides links to statutes, administrative
rules, definitions, forms and documents, tests competency and provides management
reports.
Users take a pre-test to determine their competency levesl. After completing
the module, users takes an assessment test. Those who score 85 percent receive
a printed certificate, and the Disclosure Office is notified of the successful
completion. Those who fail receive a copy of the test with incorrect questions
highlighted and the user can return to those areas of the module that require
further study.
New features under development include a “disclosure training path”
that will link to the parent module to make training available to other state
agencies, local units of government and Treasury contractors. Users will be
able to designate a classification at sign-in and be directed to the appropriate
training module on the same “parent” site.
Judges cited the program for its cost – roughly $15 per employee the first
year, to drop significantly as more users are added – and the program’s
relevance. Said one: “It’s a well-rounded program, focused on an
often under-served, overlooked population.” Another added, “They
didn’t do just one thing – they educated the entire workforce.”
The entries were judged by an independent panel consisting Delena Bratton of
Fast Enterprises/Gentax, Clare Calaby of the Internal Revenue Service and Steve
Roll of the BNA Tax Management, Inc.
The Federation of Tax Administrators is a nonprofit organization comprised of
the tax and revenue departments of the 50 states, the District of Columbia,
and New York City. Its mission is to improve the standards and methods of tax
administration.
####
WASHINGTON STATE
HONORED FOR
TRAINING PROGRAM
(Washington , D. C., March 15, 2006) The Federation of Tax Administrators announced
today that the Washington State Department of Revenue web-based workshops and
tutorials was named winner of the Best Use of Technology category of the 2006
FTA Award for Training.
The Award is made to a state revenue agency for a program that has demonstrated
excellence in training.
Judges honored three programs: Washington in the Best Use of Technology category;
North Carolina for its Guest Worker Compliance Program in the Taxpayer Training
category; and Michigan in the category of Internal Training. Michigan was cited
for having the overall “best in show” program.
Presentation of the awards will take place at the FTA Annual Meeting on June
5 in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Washington’s Internet Web Site Initiative seeks to meet an agency goal
to identify the needs of taxpayers and respond with solutions that ease their
burdens. Web-based training is available for E-File, Secure Online Services
applications (including secure messaging, BillPay, Use Tax and Cigarette Tax)
and video workshops and tutorials. It is this final component that caught the
judges’ attention.
The Department of Revenue uses streaming video to broadcast workshops, tutorials
and marketing pieces. Marketing videos use Flash animation to grab taxpayers’
attention while educating them on the features and benefits of Online Services.
Videos are found at https://fortress.wa.gov/dor/elf/FortressLogon/.
The agency has also begun to produce online video workshops to complement in-person
workshops traditionally held around the state. Workshops are posted for Business
Outreach (a general overview of the Washington tax structure), Cost Apportionment
and Lodging Industry.
Further, online tutorials are available. These use voice-over and screen capture
software to walk customers through a process step-by-step. So far, online tutorials
are available to demonstrate how to complete the small harvester tax return
and how to send a secure message.
Washington reported more than 25,000 viewings of its online videos within the
first six months.
Judges were particularly pleased with the program’s ease of use and careful
targeting. (Before launching the effort, Washington first determined that 88
percent of its web site users had the requisite high-speed Internet connection.)
“Who else does this?” asked one. “They just did a super job.
This is one that makes the world a better place.”
The entries were judged by an independent panel consisting Delena Bratton of
Fast Enterprises/Gentax, Clare Calaby of the Internal Revenue Service and Steve
Roll of the BNA Tax Management, Inc.
The Federation of Tax Administrators is a nonprofit organization comprised of
the tax and revenue departments of the 50 states, the District of Columbia,
and New York City. Its mission is to improve the standards and methods of tax
administration.
####
NORTH CAROLINA
HONORED FOR
TRAINING PROGRAM
(Washington , D. C., March 15, 2006) The Federation of Tax Administrators announced
today that the North Carolina Guest Worker Compliance Program was named winner
of Taxpayer Training category of the 2006 FTA Award for Training.
The Award is made to a state revenue agency for a program that has demonstrated
excellence in training.
Judges honored three programs: Washington State for its web-based workshops
and tutorials in the Best Use of Technology category; North Carolina for its
Guest Worker Compliance Program in the Taxpayer Training category; and Michigan
in the category of Internal Training. Michigan was cited for having the overall
“best in show” program.
Presentation of the awards will take place at the FTA Annual Meeting on June
5 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The winners have also been invited to make a presentation
on their programs during the annual meeting.
Recently North Carolina officials realized, to their surprise, that immigrant
residence in the state had jumped by 400 percent since 1990 and had doubled
in the past five years. Newsweek dubbed North Carolina a “Hispanic state”
on par with states such as Arizona, Texas and Florida – Latinos make up
nearly 7 percent of the state population.
The influx of workers from other cultures and other languages led to unsurprising
difficulties in tax administration. North Carolina’s program tackled the
problem from multiple directions. The agency partnered with the Sanford Public
Policy Institute to develop knowledge and data to guide development of a strategy.
The taxpayer training component of the strategy included hiring not just bilingual
personnel but native-born speakers who could explain cultural norms and expectations
and provide a trusted liaison to community representatives. To increase voluntary
compliance, the agency will or has already begun to track why taxpayers called
for help, retain taxpayer contact information on returns filed without a Social
Security or Individual Taxpayer Identification number, develop relationships
with the business community, educate the General Assembly on Hispanic tax issues,
deliver seminars in the Hispanic community, create flyers and brochures that
used genuine, understandable Spanish rather than translated English, cultivate
media contacts, create a Spanish slogan that illustrates the importance of filing
taxes, build a radio and TV media campaign and build a special Spanish language
section of the web site.
Judges called the program “tremendous” and marveled that it “used
every possible avenue to reach out to anyone who could be affected by the guest
worker problem – churches, heads of communities, governments … they
clearly talked and listened and asked questions.” They were particularly
impressed by the program’s potential. Said one: “This could potentially
bring substantial numbers of immigrant workers into the mainstream. They’re
taking the fear out of taxes.”
The entries were judged by an independent panel consisting Delena Bratton of
Fast Enterprises/Gentax, Clare Calaby of the Internal Revenue Service and Steve
Roll of the BNA Tax Management, Inc.
The Federation of Tax Administrators is a nonprofit organization comprised of
the tax and revenue departments of the 50 states, the District of Columbia,
and New York City. Its mission is to improve the standards and methods of tax
administration.
####