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To: The University Community From: Lucinda Brinks, Human Resources Analyst Date: January 24, 2001 Re: 2000 W-2's and Turbo Tax Filing Those of you who worked for the University during calendar year 2000 should be receiving your W-2 from the University within the next few days As you know, paperless tax filing is no longer just the wave of the future - today it's an accessible convenience. The IRS began offering electronic tax filing in 1986 to help revolutionize the way taxpayers approach tax season. Under the more recent IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, Congress established a goal to have 80% of all tax returns "e-filed" by 2007. For the 1999 tax season, more people than ever enjoyed the benefits of e-filing with a record setting 29.3 million individual taxpayers filing their returns electronically. As we approach this year's tax season, consider how e-filing can make it easier to prepare and file your 2000 tax return. When you file your tax return electronically, the IRS can detect any mathematical errors in the return before it is accepted, so you can avoid delays caused by clerical errors. E-filing expedites the time it takes to process your return, so you may receive your refund check in as little as two or three weeks or half the time it typically takes to receive a refund when you file your return through the mail. The University is pleased to announce a new W-2 employee service, which will make filing your tax returns electronically easier and more accurate, while at the same time, supporting paperless processing. If you plan to file your personal income taxes using TurboTax 2000 (Intuit's personal tax filing software) you will be able to automatically download your W-2 payroll tax information from the University into the appropriate TurboTax forms directly over the Internet for free. Also, as part of this program, if you choose to use the web based online service, you will receive a 5% discount. For more information regarding this service, please read the following FAQ's. You may also visit www.probusinesstaxes.com for additional information about Turbo Tax software and the Web-based filing service. Q. What is the Automated Tax Return (ATR) service? A. Intuit Inc., makers of the popular Quickenä TurboTaxä tax preparation and filing software, have launched a new Automated Tax Return (ATR) service to simplify tax preparation for TurboTax users. ATR allows users of TurboTax tax preparation and filing software to import tax information from multiple sources such as employers, brokerage houses, and mutual fund companies directly into the correct TurboTax forms over the Internet. Since our payroll provider, ProBusiness, has partnered with Intuit to provide this service, you will be able to electronically download your individual W-2 data from ProBusiness directly into TurboTax through the Internet for free. Also, as part of this program, if you choose to use the web based online service you will receive a 5% discount (go to www.probusinesstaxes.com for more information). Q. So how does it work? A. Embedded in each version of TurboTax 2000 (both the software and web application) is a series of screens that will ask whether your employer allows you to automatically download your data into TurboTax. To use the free service, simply answer "yes" then select our payroll provider, ProBusiness, from a drop-down list of providers which includes ProBusiness, PeopleSoft, Ceridian, and seemyw2.com. Validate your request by entering your social security number and W-2 box one data and your W-2 data will automatically transfer via the Internet into the appropriate locations in the TurboTax form. Q. Is this a secure transaction? A. Intuit's TurboTax ATR service combines Open Financial Exchange (OFX), the standard technology used in e-finance, with 128-bit military-grade encryption to create an advanced security protocol that ensures the highest level of security and confidentiality when obtaining financial data to populate your TurboTax form over the Internet. Q. How do I participate in this program? A. Only employees using Intuit's TurboTax 2000 tax preparation and filing software can take advantage of this Web-based ATR service. TurboTax software and the ATR Web-based filing service can be accessed at www.probusinesstaxes.com. Turbo Tax software can also be purchased at many retail stores, which sell computer software including Costco. Q. What if I already own TurboTax 2000…does this still work? A. Yes, all copies of TurboTax 2000 contain the Automated Tax Return (ATR) service option. Q. Overall what are the benefits to me? A. Using the ATR service provided by Intuit and ProBusiness, you can:
To: Campus Community From: EEO Office Date: January 3, 2001 Re: What's new in 2001 The year 2001 introduces some changes to EEO and Labor laws. All university employees should be aware of the changes and be prepared to comply with the new standards. AB 2222 This new law expands the definition of physical and mental disability and removes California from conformity with the federal ADA. Under the ADA, a disability is defined as an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. AB2222 removes the term "substantially" from California's requirement to demonstrate a disability requiring reasonable accommodation. AB2222 overturns the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings in Sutton v. United Airlines. In Sutton, the court held that pilots who had 20/20 vision when they wore eyeglasses were not disabled under the ADA because it was necessary to look at the employee's limitations after any mitigating or corrective action had been taken. AB 2222 states that, in the State of California, a disability shall be determined without considering mitigating measures such as medications or other devices that correct or mitigate the condition. AB 1856 As we discussed in our sexual harassment training, an employee may sue a supervisor personally for failure to respond properly to allegations of sexual harassment. AB 1856 says that non-supervisory employees can now be held personally liable for prohibited sexual harassment regardless of whether the employer knows about his or her actions. AB 1856 overturns existing California case law which provided that non-supervisory employees who sexually harassed a coworker could not be held personally liable under the Fair Employment Housing Act (FEHA). AB 2357 This legislation prohibits employers with 25 or more employees from discharging or discriminating against a domestic violence victim who takes time off from work to seek medical attention for injuries resulting from domestic violence. It also protects employee's who take time off to obtain social services including psychological counseling, safety planning, or relocation. Employees at the University that encounter such a situation are also encouraged to utilize the University's Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP provides confidential counseling at no cost to the employee. To: Campus Community From: Sandi Taylor Date: January 17, 2001 Re: Postage Increase The United States Postal Service chose January 7, 2001 as the implementation date for price increases, raising the cost of a 1oz 1st Class letter to .34. Postcard stamps stayed at .20 but Express Mail, Priority Mail, and International Airmail all realized increases. The overall rate increase is approximately 4.6% but individual percentage increases vary by class of mail service. The structure for International Mail was changed to speed of service cost basis rather than content based pricing. Express Mail pieces up to ½ lb. now cost $12.25 rather than $11.75. The rate for Priority Mail weighing up to 1 lb. increased from $3.20 to $3.50. International postcards to all countries except Canada and Mexico increased from .55 to .70. Canada rates went from .45 to .50 and Mexico from .40 to .50. The ½ oz rate for International Airmail Letters was eliminated with International letters weighing up to 1oz to all countries except Canada and Mexico costing .80. Canada and Mexico are both .60 up to 1 oz. You may refer to the Memo from Office Services dated January 3, 2001 for a brief breakdown of changes to Nonprofit Standard Mail rates. The University will obviously be affected by these price increases in postage along with everyone else. Two of the USPS' Special Services used quite frequently by various departments on campus also increased in cost. The Certified Mail Fee went from $1.40 to $1.90 with the Return Receipt increasing from $1.25 to $1.50. If you are interested in a more detailed explanation of the rate and service fee changes you may go to the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com. To: All Faculty From: Lawry Finsen, CAS Associate Dean Date: 12/1/2000 Re: Grant and Fellowship Opportunities Beginning with this issue of Inside Redlands, updates about grant and fellowship opportunities will be publicized here. You are also invited to come to the Academic Affairs Office (Admin 302) at any time and peruse the shelves where we keep the hard copy of this information as well as much more information about grant and fellowship opportunities.
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