State Tax Assistance Program�(STAP)

IT’S ALL ABOUT AN ACCURATE STATE TAX RETURN FOR THE TAXPAYER

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7/15/2025

State Tax Assistance Preparation�(STAP)

• We have a taxpayer with state income.
• In the past, we would self-train for that state and prepare the state return
• We had errors on the state returns even LA and OK gambling
• Need to use STAP (NTTC strongly encourages) to prepare the state return.

What is STAP?

* A way to prepare State Tax returns and not have to send

the client away !!

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* Not perfect but the best we have.

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* Takes about 1-2 weeks so will occupy LC’s time

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* Client may need to leave some documents with you (Dropoff)

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* Client will return later for Review and 8879 signing.

Taxpayer with out of state return - options

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STAP

The question:

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Are you “confident” you and the quality reviewer can prepare a correct out-of-state tax return?

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Volunteers who knowingly prepare returns with state tax topics or forms on which they have not been trained are subject to counseling and may be removed from the program for failure to follow program policy.

Committee Libraries > Training and Tax Law > D – State Tax Assistance Program:

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STAP Participating States

STAP Data

STAP Process

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• Uses assisting state intake sheet
• Interviews taxpayer - STAP not instantaneous
• Emails stap+xx9@aarpfoundation.org
• Waits for response and works with assistor
• Provides assistor site access if necessary
• Local team:
• Completes final quality review
• Files the return

State Tax Assistance Preparation�(STAP)�The “how to”

TY 2025

Pre-Season

• Each Location Co-Ordinator must decide what they want to do their location (“Yes”, “No”, “Yes w/ limited scope”)
• Counselors must decide if they want to participate ( “Yes”, “No”, “Yes for limited states”)
• Create a “Cheat Sheet” for the CFs to use –eligible states and eligible counselors

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Excluding LA and OK nonresident

Galveston

• PA – Res

Milby

• MO – PY Res
• SC – NR

Parker Williams

• OR – NR
• PA – PY Res

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Pasadena

• AR – NR
• AZ – PY Res
• IL – Res
• MD – PY Res

Pearland

• IN – NR

Webster

• AZ(2) – Res
• CT - ??
• NM - ??
• OK(2) - PYR

Res - Resident

NR – Non-Resident

PYR – Part Year Resident

Part 1 – TP Initial Visit at Site

1. Confirm participating State – STAP Assisting States
2. Print, complete any State Intake Sheet
3. Start State Return in TS - minimum
4. Schedule Return time for TP (2 weeks?)

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• Take home State Form – First Name and last 4 of SSN only
• Take home Requesting STAP Counselor Procedure

• One point person – either Initial TC or QR
• Be sure CF has separate Status Report for State
• Be sure to mark-up local Status Report that state return is STAP – for the ERO
• Federal return done as normal
• ERO files Federal Return

Documents – print at site:

• State Intake Sheet (if exists)
• Requesting STAP Counselor Procedure (optional)

Part 2 – Contact Assisting Counselor

1. Requesting counselor (TX3D5) Email Assisting STAP Team – details in step 5 & 6 of Procedure
2. Assisting Counselor will contact you and confirm
3. Contact Eddie/Susan with Assisting Counselors email and mobile number.
4. Eddie/Susan will create Log-ID w/ Assisting Counselors info
5. Requesting counselors work with Assisting Counselor until done

Part 3 – TP Return Visit

1. Be sure to use Status Report saved from before
2. Print State Return and have taxpayer sign 8879
3. Indicate to efile State return only on Status Report – for the ERO
4. Let Eddie/Susan know to deactivate log-in ID

Documentation available on Chromebook links

Or go to the TX3D5 website