state tax e-filing update: corporate, partnership...

57
State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership and S Corporation Returns Mastering Latest Rules and Technologies for Mandatory and Optional Electronic Filing Today’s faculty features: 1pm Eastern | 12pm Central | 11am Mountain | 10am Pacific Please refer to the instructions emailed to the registrant for the dial-in information. Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 10. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012 Presenting a live 110-minute teleconference with interactive Q&A Terry Hunt, E-File Manager, Kansas Department of Revenue, Topeka, Kan. Aaron Lindwall, Support Analyst, Corptax, Los Angeles For this program, attendees must listen to the audio over the telephone.

Upload: others

Post on 27-May-2020

3 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate,

Partnership and S Corporation Returns Mastering Latest Rules and Technologies for Mandatory and Optional Electronic Filing

Today’s faculty features:

1pm Eastern | 12pm Central | 11am Mountain | 10am Pacific

Please refer to the instructions emailed to the registrant for the dial-in information.

Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If you have any questions, please

contact Customer Service at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 10.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012

Presenting a live 110-minute teleconference with interactive Q&A

Terry Hunt, E-File Manager, Kansas Department of Revenue, Topeka, Kan.

Aaron Lindwall, Support Analyst, Corptax, Los Angeles

For this program, attendees must listen to the audio over the telephone.

Page 2: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Tips for Optimal Quality

Sound Quality

Call in on the telephone by dialing 1-866-570-7602 and enter your PIN when

prompted.

If you have any difficulties during the call, press *0 for assistance. You may also

send us a chat or e-mail [email protected] immediately so we can address

the problem.

Viewing Quality

To maximize your screen, press the F11 key on your keyboard. To exit full screen,

press the F11 key again.

Page 3: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Continuing Education Credits

Attendees must stay on the line throughout the program, including the Q & A

session, in order to qualify for a full continuing education credits. Strafford is

required to monitor attendance.

Please refer to the instructions emailed to the registrant for additional

information. If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service

at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 10.

FOR LIVE EVENT ONLY

Page 4: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Program Materials

If you have not printed the conference materials for this program, please

complete the following steps:

• Click on the + sign next to “Conference Materials” in the middle of the left-

hand column on your screen.

• Click on the tab labeled “Handouts” that appears, and there you will see a

PDF of the slides and the Official Record of Attendance for today's program.

• Double-click on the PDF and a separate page will open.

• Print the slides by clicking on the printer icon.

Page 5: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership and S Corporation Returns Seminar

Terry Hunt, Kansas Revenue Department

[email protected]

Nov. 27, 2012

Aaron Lindwall, Corptax

[email protected]

Page 6: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Today’s Program

Upcoming E-File Mandates

[Aaron Lindwall]

Update On The Federal/State E-File Program

[Terry Hunt]

General Guidance For Dealing With States On E-Filing

[Aaron Lindwall]

Slide 8 – Slide 22

Slide 23 – Slide 45

Slide 46 – Slide 57

Page 7: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Notice

ANY TAX ADVICE IN THIS COMMUNICATION IS NOT INTENDED OR WRITTEN BY

THE SPEAKERS’ FIRMS TO BE USED, AND CANNOT BE USED, BY A CLIENT OR ANY

OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF (i) AVOIDING PENALTIES THAT

MAY BE IMPOSED ON ANY TAXPAYER OR (ii) PROMOTING, MARKETING OR

RECOMMENDING TO ANOTHER PARTY ANY MATTERS ADDRESSED HEREIN.

You (and your employees, representatives, or agents) may disclose to any and all persons,

without limitation, the tax treatment or tax structure, or both, of any transaction

described in the associated materials we provide to you, including, but not limited to,

any tax opinions, memoranda, or other tax analyses contained in those materials.

The information contained herein is of a general nature and based on authorities that are

subject to change. Applicability of the information to specific situations should be

determined through consultation with your tax adviser.

7

Page 8: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

UPCOMING E-FILE MANDATES

Aaron Lindwall, Corptax

Page 9: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Agenda For This Section

I. States with new mandates for TY12

A. Colorado

B. Illinois adding partnerships

C. Michigan transitioning from MBT (Michigan business tax) to

CIT (corporate income tax) returns

D. Rhode Island

E. Tennessee

F. Virginia

G. West Virginia

9

Page 10: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12

• Colorado

― Effective Jan. 1, 2012 (Senate Bill 10-162)

― Businesses claiming EZ (enterprise zone) tax credits are required

to file electronically with the Revenue Department.

― Businesses are required to receive pre-certification each

year prior to earning EZ business tax credits, and then must

receive final certification from their local EZ administrator

after earning the credit. An online system is available to

receive pre-certification and certification of EZ business tax

credits.

― Mandate applies to filers of Form 112 (C corporation) and Form

106 (partnership, S corporation) with EZ tax credits.

10

Page 11: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• Illinois adding partnership returns for TY12

― Regulation Sect. 760.100, electronic returns:

― Beginning with returns required to be filed for taxable years ending on

or after December 31, 2011, any taxpayer required to file its federal

income tax return by electronic means is required to file its equivalent

Illinois income tax return for the same taxable year by electronic

means. This subsection (c)(4) does not require electronic filing of

amended returns or of returns of individuals or estates, or to any return

the Department has announced cannot be filed by electronic means.

― TY11

― IL-1120 (single and combined C corporation)

― IL-1120 Insurance (single and combined)

― IL-1120-ST (S corporation)

― TY12

― Adding support for IL-1065 (partnership)

11

Page 12: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• Illinois (Cont.)

― Short period returns

― Illinois determines which form year to use based on end date. The TY11

form is, “for tax years ending on or after 12/31/2011 and on or before

12/30/2012”. Most state use the beginning date. For short-year filers,

this has two implications:

― Short period returns with an ending date before 12/31/2011 are

prepared on TY10 forms and do not fall within the mandate. They

can be paper-filed.

― Short-year partnership returns can not be e-filed until they have a

EOY date in 2013, because Illinois did not produce a schema until

TY12.

― Example: A short period of 1/1/2012 - 6/30/2012 return will have

to be prepared and filed in the TY11 e-file schema.

― Depending on how your system handles schema changes from

year to year, this could affect how you import data for Illinois.

12

Page 13: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• Michigan

― Effective Jan. 1, 2013, Michigan has an enforced e-file mandate for

MBT and CIT. Software developers producing MBT and CIT tax

preparation software and computer-generated forms must support e-

file for all eligible Michigan forms that are included in their software

package. All eligible MBT and CIT returns prepared using tax

preparation software or computer-generated forms must be e-filed.

― The Treasury Department will be enforcing the e-file mandate for

MBT and CIT. The enforcement includes not processing computer-

generated paper returns that are eligible to be e-filed. A notice

will be mailed to the taxpayer indicating that the taxpayer's

return was not filed in the proper form and content, and it must

be e-filed. Payment received with a paper return will be

processed and credited to the taxpayer’s account, even when the

return is not processed.

13

Page 14: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• Michigan (Cont.)

― While e-file is not new for Michigan, the state is

transitioning from the MBT (Michigan business tax) to the

CIT (corporate income tax). All eligible returns prepared

using tax preparation software or computer-generated

forms, must be e-filed.

― Most taxpayers will be filing the CIT for TY12.

― MBT election enables certain MBT taxpayers with

certificated or awarded credits to continue using

those credits once the CIT is in place. Such taxpayers

may elect to continue filing and paying under the MBT

until the expiration of the previously awarded,

certificated credits.

14

Page 15: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• Michigan (Cont.)

― Special considerations for fiscal filers

― Taxpayers with a federal fiscal year beginning in 2011 and

ending in 2012 must file two short-period returns.

― One to report its final 2011 MBT liability, for the period

from the beginning of its 2011-12 fiscal year through

Dec. 31, 2011.

― The other to report either its initial CIT liability for the

period from Jan. 1, 2012 to the end of its 2011-12 fiscal

year; or, for taxpayers electing to continue MBT to claim

certain certificated credits, a 2012 MBT return for the

period from Jan. 1, 2012 to the end of its 2011-12 fiscal

year

15

Page 16: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• Michigan (Cont.)

― Special considerations for fiscal filers (Cont.)

― Furthermore, the final MBT return must use the same method as the second CIT/MBT

return.

― A taxpayer that is subject to the MBT and the CIT for fractional parts of the same

fiscal tax year must use the same method to compute the MBT as used to compute

the CIT for the other portion of the tax year. MCL 208.1503(2) and MCL 206.683

More specifically, MCL 206.683(1) directs that a taxpayer subject to the CIT may

elect to compute the tax for the portion of the tax year to which the CIT applies by

1 of the following methods:

― 1. Annual: The tax may be computed as if the CIT was effective on the first

day of the taxpayer’s annual accounting period, and the amount computed

shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of

months in the taxpayer’s first tax year and the denominator of which is the

number of months in the taxpayer’s annual accounting period.

― 2. Actual: The tax may be computed by determining the corporate income tax

base in the first tax year in accordance with an accounting method

satisfactory to the department that reflects the actual corporate income tax

base attributable to the period. The method of accounting used in prior fiscal

years will be assumed to reflect the actual tax base attributable to the

period.

16

Page 17: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• Michigan (Cont.)

― Special considerations for fiscal filers (Cont.)

― MCL 206.683(2) further states that the method chosen

by the taxpayer to compute the CIT shall be the same

method used by that same taxpayer when computing

the MBT for the other portion of that same tax year.

― Software providers will have to make changes to

the TY11 MBT calculations.

― Verify the timing of these changes with your

vendor

17

Page 18: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• Michigan (Cont.)

― Special considerations for fiscal filers

― Automatic extension to file (not to pay)

― Fiscal-year taxpayers will be granted an automatic extension for

their 2012 fiscal year annual CIT return or 2012 fiscal year annual

MBT election return. Returns for fiscal years ending in 2012 will be

due on the same date as 2012 calendar-year returns, which is April

30, 2013. An extension request form need not be filed unless

required to transmit payment of any tax due with the annual

return. The annual return tax due must be paid by the original due

date, which is the last day of the fourth month after the end of the

fiscal year.

― A fiscal-year taxpayer may request an additional extension on Form

4, Application for Extension of Time to File Michigan Tax Returns,

if the extension to April 30, 2013 is not sufficient (e.g., a taxpayer

with a fiscal year ending November 2012, with a federal extension

granted through September 2013).

18

Page 19: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• Rhode Island

• Regulation ELF 09-01 implements 44-1-31.1 of the Rhode Island General Laws.

• Grants the tax administrator the authority to require paid preparers to file

personal and business tax returns electronically with the Division of Taxation

• Effective Jan. 1, 2009, any paid preparer who filed more than 100 Rhode

Island returns during the previous calendar year must file all eligible returns

electronically.

• While the state had the authority to require electronic filing since Jan. 1, 2009, it

did not exercise that authority until TY12.

― The Taxation Division will begin enforcing that mandate Jan. 1, 2013, with

respect to paid preparers of corporate returns on the Form RI-1120 series and

Form RI-1065. Thus, all returns filed on or after Jan. 1, 2013 on Form RI-

1120C, Form RI-1120S or Form RI-1065 must be e-filed.

• Mandated tax returns for TY12 include RI-1120C, RI-1120S and RI-1065 that are

completed by a paid preparer who filed more than 100 Rhode Island returns in the

previous year (including personal and corporate income tax returns and other types

of Rhode Island tax returns).

19

Page 20: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• Tennessee

― Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, certain franchise and excise tax, certain sales

and use tax, and all professional privilege tax returns must be filed

electronically pursuant to Public Chapter 657 (2012). It states: "The

commissioner is authorized to require that any return, report, claim,

statement, application, or other document filed with the department,

including any payment or remittance that accompanies such document,

be submitted electronically in a manner approved by the commissioner

beginning no sooner than ninety days after the commissioner has

certified that a system is in place for the electronic submission of such

document or payment." This notice serves as such certification.

― Forms currently accepted through the IRS Modernized e-File (MeF)

Program include the franchise and excise tax return (FAE170),

application for extension of time to file (FAE173), and quarterly

franchise and excise tax declarations (FAE172).

20

Page 21: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• Virginia

― Corporation electronic filing mandate

― The 2012-2014 Appropriations Act (273 of HB 1301 - Acts of Assembly

2012 Special Session I, Chapter 3), effective Jan. 1, 2013, requires all

corporations to file estimated tax payments and their annual income tax

return and final payment using an electronic medium in a format

prescribed by the tax commissioner. Accordingly, for taxable years

beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2012, corporations must file and make

return payments electronically. Estimated tax payments must be made

electronically for taxable years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2013.

Waivers may be granted only if the tax commissioner finds that this

requirement creates an unreasonable burden on the corporation. All

requests for waiver are to be submitted to the tax commissioner in

writing. FAX waiver requests to: (804) 367-3015

― Form 500 filers (C corporation) must e-file.

― Form 502 files (S corporation and partnership) are not supported by e-file.

21

Page 22: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

New Mandates For TY12 (Cont.)

• West Virginia

• West Virginia will begin enforcement of its mandate, which has been in place

since Jan. 1, 2009.

• Reg.

110-10D-1 through 110-10D-9, West Virginia State Tax

Department, effective May 16, 2011

• West Virginia has amended its electronic filing regulations to provide

that for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2012, electronic filing is

mandated for those taxpayers that had annual remittance for any single

tax type equal to or greater than $10,000 during the immediately

preceding taxable year. Previously, the $10,000 threshold was to take

effect for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2011, for taxpayers

that had total annual liability for any single tax of $10,000 or more

during the preceding tax year. Other amendments to the regulations

conform to statutory changes.

• Mandate applies to Form 120 (C corporation) and Form 100 (S

corporation and partnership)

22

Page 23: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

UPDATE ON THE FEDERAL/STATE E-FILE PROGRAM

Terry Hunt, Kansas Revenue Department

Page 24: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Federal/State E-File Program Update

I. States’ implementation of 1120/1120S/1065 e-file

A. 2007 – 2012 program growth

B. State plans for future implementation

II. Nuts and bolts of fed/state business e-file platforms

A. Schemas, TIGERS and manifests!

B. IRS shared data structures

C. State common components

D. State customizable sections of schemas

24

Page 25: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Federal/State F-File Program Update (Cont.)

III. Errors and rejected submissions

A. XML parse errors

B. State business rule errors

C. Resolve errors and re-submit submissions

IV. State coordination with software providers

A. Software developer guides

B. Business rule listings

C. Testing of software

D. Software approval process and compliance agreements

25

Page 26: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

1120/1120s/1065 State E-File Growth

26

Page 27: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Participating States Filing Season 2012

State Total State

Returns Corporate

Linked Partnership

Linked Corporate Unlinked

Partnership Unlinked

Alabama 97,305 23,456 19,399 35,751 18,699 Arkansas 41,440 5,376 4,883 21,381 9,800 Colorado 121,832 31,786 24,699 40,943 24,404 Delaware 10,207 5,744 0 4,463 0 Florida 133,600 39,835 0 93,765 0 Georgia 227,110 57,510 37,607 96,943 35,050 Iowa 48,203 10,992 7,550 20,533 9,128 Idaho 43,830 5,336 4,811 19,080 14,603 Illinois 88,389 31,955 0 56,434 0 Kansas 62,118 12,752 10,285 24,377 14,704 Louisiana 58,424 18,844 0 39,580 0 Maryland 141,858 35,072 24,990 56,819 24,977 Maine 8,303 3,302 2,795 1,545 661 Mississippi 85,558 51,453 13,807 16,857 3,441 Minnesota 128,189 31,204 19,145 54,213 23,627 Missouri 48,412 13,076 0 35,336 0 Massachusetts 17,027 2,946 2,514 7,320 4,247 Montana 32,937 7,583 4,114 13,707 7,533 North Dakota 15,602 5,918 4,659 3,191 1,834 New Jersey 1,256 34 0 1,222 0 New York City 451,472 95,822 50,585 227,996 77,069 New York State 1,302,598 227,107 103,702 568,734 403,055 Oklahoma 3,993 1,329 0 2,664 0 Oregon 52,177 12,414 0 39,763 0 Pennsylvania 300,057 60,215 45,087 130,738 64,017 Rhode Island 17,296 7,107 4,177 4,310 1,702 South Carolina 61,268 19,540 0 41,728 0 Tennessee 13,598 5,364 3,210 3,939 1,085 Utah 65,419 5,457 6,084 37,769 16,109 Virginia 16,977 6,951 0 10,026 0 Wisconsin 157,237 38,004 30,326 55,812 33,095 West Virginia 5,935 2,339 1,513 1,626 457

Total: 3,859,627 875,823 425,942 1,768,565 789,297

27

Page 28: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Connecticut: Launching 1065 E-File

Alaska

Arizona

California (independent)

District of Columbia

Hawaii

North Carolina

Ohio

South Dakota

Texas (independent)

Vermont

Non-Participating States (As Of 11/27/12)

Indiana

Kentucky

Massachusetts (independent)

New Hampshire

New Mexico

Connecticut will be accepting 1065 submissions

(CT-1065/1120SI form) beginning in January 2013,

followed by 1120 later in 2013 (CT-1120 form).

28

Page 29: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Schemas, TIGERS And Manifests

Schema: A plan, diagram or scheme

XML: Extensible mark-up language

TIGERS: Tax Implementation Group for E-Commerce Requirements Standardization

Manifest: Provides basic, minimal specifications for the package contents

(submission), and briefly describes what is contained in that submission

Web Service: A method of communication between two electronic devices over

the World Wide Web

All participating states must submit their schemas

for review and approval by the

TIGERS schema review team.

29

Page 30: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Schemas, TIGERS And Manifests (Cont.)

The IRS and states use XML schemas to document and

publish electronic versions of tax forms and schedules.

These schemas also enforce rules for data formatting,

required entries, tax years and versioning.

XML schemas provide IRS and states with “cleaner” tax

data up front, and therefore reduce errors and

adjustments to tax returns (fewer notices and letters

generated to the taxpayer).

Every submission must contain a manifest. The IRS

opens and processes the data in the manifest for both

IRS and state submissions.

Page 31: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Schemas, TIGERS And Manifests (Cont.)

For state submissions, the IRS verifies

that the state listed in the manifest is

a participating state for the submission

platform (1040, 1120, 1065).

Additional checks are performed on

the ETIN, and the name and EIN are

matched against IRS databases.

IRS checks the status of the IRS submission on “linked” fed/state returns. If

accepted, the IRS allows the state submission to be retrieved by the state.

IRS does not open or process any other data in the state submission package. The

package is just simply placed in the corresponding state’s retrieval queue for pick-up

by the state’s Web service application.

States are restricted to assigned time slots for Web service requests, so that volume

management can be monitored and throttled by the IRS.

31

Page 32: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

IRS Shared Data Structures

XML data types (e-file types)

XML naming conventions

Tax form structuring

Schema packaging and versioning

Return header information

Binary attachments

“Common” folders

32

Page 33: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

XML Data Types And Naming Conventions

33

Page 34: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

XML Data Types And Naming Conventions (Cont.)

34

Page 35: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

State Common Components

XML schema structure

ReturnHeader

ReturnDataState

FinancialTransaction

Binary attachments

IRS forms (W-2s, 1099s)

35

Page 36: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

State XML Schema Structure

36

Page 37: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

States’ Customizable Schema Sections

37

Page 38: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

States’ Customizable Schema Sections (Cont.)

38

Page 39: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Errors And Rejected Submissions

Error Category Error Msg Rule Number

Severity DataValue

Unknown Schema Version

XML Schema version unknown or missing. 100 99

Error Category Error Msg Rule Number

Severity DataValue

Duplicate Return Original return already received for this tax year by FEIN.

51 99

Error Category Error Msg Rule Number

Severity DataValue

XML PDF Mismatch

XML attachments and submission attachments do not match.

54 99

39

Page 40: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Errors And Rejected Submissions (Cont.)

Error Category Error Msg Rule Number

Severity DataValue

XML Validation

Error: The 'http://www.irs.gov/efile:Phone' element is invalid - The value '50386102435037910329' is invalid according to its datatype 'http://www.irs.gov/efile:PhoneNumberType' - The Pattern constraint failed. Line: 1 Position: 1693

50 99

Error Category Error Msg Rule Number

Severity DataValue

XML Validation

Error: The 'http://www.irs.gov/efile: AveragePercentToKsSales' element is invalid - The value '-0.059668' is invalid according to its datatype 'http://www.irs.gov/efile:Decimal99Type' - The MinInclusive constraint failed. Line: 1 Position: 2725

50 99

40

Page 41: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

State Business Rule Errors ErrorCategory ErrorMessage RuleNumber

XML Validation <Actual XML Error Message> 50

Duplicate Return Original return already received for this tax year by FEIN. 51

Invalid Tax Year Tax Year in the Manifest is invalid and out of the range of the program.

52

Invalid Submission type Submission type in manifest not an accepted value. 53

XML PDF Mismatch XML attachments and submission attachments do not match. 54

Invalid EIN EIN does not match IRS master file. 55

Debit Date Missing Requested Settlement Date must be sent for a direct debit transaction

56

Debit Amount Error Payment Amount for a direct debit must be greater than zero 57

TaxPeriodBeginDate Missing Tax period begin date must be sent 58

TaxPeriodEndDate Missing Tax period end date must be sent 59

ABA Validation ABA Bank routing number format is invalid 60

Unknown Schema Version XML Schema version unknown or missing 100

Invalid ETIN Invalid or unauthorized transmitter 101

Invalid EFIN Invalid or unauthorized filer 102

XML Return Missing XML Return was not found in the transmission 103

41

Page 42: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Error Resolution

XML parse error

Decipher XML parse error message

Review tax return for data elements listed in parse error

message

State business rule error

Check rule number error and message

Refer to state business rule error listings

Contact software provider or State ELF office for assistance

42

Page 43: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

State Coordination With Software Providers

Software developer guides and business rules

Made available to software partners to

use in conjunction with schemas for

software development

Guides are uniform in structure across

states, allowing developers to easily

locate needed information.

Guides include state program

requirements, contact personnel,

testing overview, acknowledgements

and reject information

Some states also publish this guide on

the ERO section of the state Web site.

43

Page 44: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

ERO handbook

Overview of state e-file

programs and ERO

responsibilities

Business rule reject codes

Available on state Web sites

and/or through software

providers

State Coordination With Software Providers (Cont.)

44

Page 45: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Software Testing And Approval Process

States develop test scenarios based off high-volume forms,

legislative changes and errors seen in prior years.

States publish test scenarios and testing timeframes.

Software developers transmit the state scenario data

electronically, and the state compares that XML data received to

the scenario published.

Software approval is granted when the developer has

successfully sent all required test scenarios.

Some states require additional steps in the approval process:

Letters of intent, participation agreements, compliance

contracts

45

Page 46: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

GENERAL GUIDANCE FOR DEALING WITH STATES ON E-FILING

Aaron Lindwall, Corptax

Page 47: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Agenda For This Section

I. Successful e-filing

A. Planning

B. Preparing the e-file return

C. Reviewing your e-file return

D. Filing the return with the jurisdiction

47

Page 48: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Planning

• Planning

• Are you required to e-file?

• Many states have different mandates for paid preparers vs.

self-filers.

• Some state have e-file mandates but have not actually built

the e-file infrastructure.

• Some states have e-file mandates and programs but are not

currently enforcing the mandate.

• For states where you need to e-file, what is the perfection

period?

• Move states without a perfection period earlier in your

preparation process. You must have an accepted return by

the return due date.

48

Page 49: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Planning (Cont.)

Perfection period

None 5 Business Days

7 Calendar Days

10 Business Days

10 Calendar Days

CO MI NJ (P-ship) NY (P-ship) NYC PA (C corp) RI TN TX VA

LA MA MS (P-ship)

NY (C corp) NY (S corp)

AL IL

FL GA OR PA (S corp) SC WI

• Waiting on information for WV

49

Page 50: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Planning (Cont.)

• Planning

• When will e-file functionality be delivered from your software vendor?

• Vendor ability to deliver functionality in a timely manner is affected

by:

• Initial delivery of yearly schema

• Complexity of schema and number of business rules

• Testing requirements to gain software approval

• Attend webinars from your vendor to refresh knowledge on existing

jurisdiction issues, and learn about new jurisdictions

• Define roles within your organization

• Who is responsible for the e-file function?

• How are errors reported back to the preparer’s for correction?

• Who is responsible for determining the filing was successful?

50

Page 51: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Preparing

• Preparing the e-file return

• Inventory items previously included in the paper return to

determine how they will be included for e-file

• Part of the XML file

• As a PDF attachment

• Separately submitted on paper

• Not supported for electronic filing (NY credit forms)

• What does the jurisdiction require for federal attachments?

• As filed federal return in XML

• Do they require single-entity, pro forma attachments?

51

Page 52: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Preparing (Cont.)

• Preparing the e-file return

• Does the jurisdiction allow eliminations in an eliminations entity?

• Are negative amounts allowed?

• What are the signature requirements for the return?

• Signature document retained in records

• Signature document submitted with the return

• Certify the return electronically

• Provide information like last year’s revenue or a state-issued

number

• Don’t wait for the return to be completed to begin the e-file process

• Many of the items above can be determined early in the return

preparation process by validating the return against the schema.

• Other items such as address issues can be identified and corrected

early in the process.

52

Page 53: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Reviewing

• Reviewing the e-file return

• The e-file return is not the printed copy of the return.

• Does your software allow you to view the actual

XML file that is being filed with the jurisdiction?

• Who is responsible for reviewing the e-file return?

• What tools are available to facilitate the e-file

review?

• At a minimum, you should be verifying important

numbers in the return (TI, tax due) and attachments

included with the e-file return.

53

Page 54: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Filing

• Filing the return with the jurisdiction.

• How will you transmit the return?

• Direct to the jurisdiction

• Through a third party

• Direct to the jurisdiction

• Combined fed/state participating states can be

uploaded to irs.gov.

• Use your EFIN/ETIN with the return

• You must download the acknowledgement file to

determine if you were accepted or rejected.

• Is any additional registration needed with the

jurisdiction?

54

Page 55: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Filing (Cont.) • Filing the return with the jurisdiction.

• Through a third party

• Use their EFIN/ETIN (online filer)

• Use your EFIN, their ETIN (ERO)

• Do you have the ability to test the transmission process to determine if

trust certificates are up to date or if any firewall issues exist?

• How is the accepted or rejected status (acknowledgement file) reported

back to you?

• Maximize your perfection period for rejected returns

• The 10 days is actually a “lookback” period and is determined as of the

date the return is accepted. IRS looks back 10 days from the date the

return is accepted to determine if there have been any rejects for the

same EIN and tax period.

• Plan to file early and know that you may need to re-file (and reject

again) on the return due date if your return hasn’t been accepted. This

will secure the longest perfection period.

55

Page 56: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Filing (Cont.)

• If my return passed validations in my software, why would I reject with the

jurisdiction?

• The degree to which the various jurisdictions “partner” with software vendors

affects our ability to provide accurate error reporting that increases the

likelihood of the taxpayer receiving an accepted return on the fist

transmission attempt.

• States may not publish all the validations they perform on returns or may

perform validations we cannot (e.g., is the EIN/state account number a valid

combination?).

• If a state implements a lot of rules (Illinois, for example, had 1,500 business

rules), then there is a risk that not all the rules will work in harmony for each

filing scenario.

• What steps need to be preformed once the return is accepted?

• Are acknowledgement files archived in your software or somewhere else on

your network? What about the XML return?

• Do you have the ability to “lock” a filed return?

56

Page 57: State Tax E-Filing Update: Corporate, Partnership …media.straffordpub.com/products/state-tax-e-filing...2012/11/27  · Attendees can still view the presentation slides online. If

Filing (Cont.)

• Tips for success

• Clearly define roles within your organization

• Have a point person for distributing errors to the preparers and

collecting needed return attachments. That person should

have a return inventory to compare with the e-file package.

• Have someone responsible for determining when the return has

been accepted. For some jurisdictions, it is not an all or

nothing proposition. You may receive a partially accepted

return.

• Begin the process early

• Many errors can be resolved before the return is completed.

Other issues can be determined early.

• Allow time for rejections; know for how long your perfection

period lasts

57