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Show PAGE 5 'popDom)' poefluires Dim Tour explains how forms are processed Picture 1 -- - Sorting mail Extracting sort forms into slots on the "Tingle Tables". Each desk contains a candlelight so operators may check envelopes to be sure nothing is left in. I .WORKERS IN Why does my income tax refund take six weeks to process? Why cant I pick it up today? These two questions top the most asked list at the Internal Revenue Service Center in Ogden, Utah. If it were possible to give all taxpayers a tour of the center, the answers to these two questions, and many more, would no longer be a mystery. As editors, we hope that this picture page will help answer some of those questions for you. The center is a massive computer processing complex housed in two connecting buildings, that together cover a sprawling ten acres. The primary mission of Ogden Service Center is to promote voluntary compliance to federal income tax laws by providing faster and more accurate processing of tax information through the use of the computer systems. These systems handle massive paperwork operations and convert information into computer language, making it readily available without having to sort through millions of tax Picture 5 KATHLEEN -- - Totals recorded cash clerk, displays a chart of the running totals of forms Between January and March of this year $1,855, 37,087.04 in tax handled the at have been facility. BROWN, processed at IRS. returns 1 returns. The Center processes tax returns by transferring data from tax returns to magnetic disks or tapes and by checking tax returns for mathematical accuracy. The Center also issues bills and delinquency notices, identifies many audit deficiencies, processes taxpayers correspondence and adjusts taxpayer accounts. At the first part of each year the entire Service Center gets staffed and ready for the tax processing season. Last December, more than eight million 1040 individual tax forms were mailed to taxpayers in 14 midwest and western tates. As a general rule, most of these returns will be returned before April 15 when the sophisticated processing system of the Service Center swings into action. Trucks deliver millions of returns to the Center where they and moved along the pipeline to be are machine-opene- d g tables. extracted and sorted by employees at (See photo 1.) At the Ogden Service Center about 25 million envelopes are opened annually and the contents extracted. At peak periods as many as 270 clerks extract up to 400,000 envelopes a day. After the returns have been sorted, batched and numbered, they continue along the pipeline to be examined. Examiners check the returns for legible entries, proper placement of amounts and that the necessary schedules are attached. The returns are next sent to the Data Conversion Branch where the taxpayers name, address and tax data are relayed to the computer through the direct data entry system with the touch of a button. (See photo 2 and 6. ) The Service Center computers check the accuracy of all mathematical calculations. Here at the hub of the ADP system, those returns that are found to be in error are identified by the computer and an error register is printed. These returns are then reviewed by technicians in the Input Perfection Branch, and the correct information is into the system. Once the tax information has been determined to be accurate, the correct information is sent by tape to the National Computer Center for a final check, at which point authorization for refund is given if stipulated. (See photo 7). Refund accounts are put on a special tape and shipped to Regional Disbursing Centers around the country. The disbursing centers print and issue the checks directly to the mail-sortin- Picture 2 -- - DATA TRANSCRIBER Dana Heren Entering information enters tax form information directly into the Picture 6 - Computer tie-i- n LARRY WAGSTAFF, tax examiner, operates the IDRS machine, which ties him into the computer and gives him data in a matter of seconds. taxpayer. Early in the filing season, this entire process can be done in as little as four weeks, but during the peak season, especially if the taxpayer makes a simple math or omission error, this process could take up to ten weeks. The best advise to taxpayers, especially those who anticipate refund, is to file early and file accurately. During the peak season, the Ogden Service Center em- Picture 3 - Employes busy MACHINE OPERATOR Robert Wallwork is area of the IRS one of many workers in the warehouse facility. ployes about 3500 perople. Despite the many workers, complex equipment, and operating expenses, Center officials report that it only costs about 56c to collect $100 through the It would also speed returns and ease the work tax system. d load at the center if taxpayers would use the labels and envelopes for their returns. The envelopes contain sppcial coding information that assists employes in sorting the mail, and the label can speed the processing as much as one day. Like all other business dealing in checks, the IRS has had some problems with bad checks. But considering that the Ogden Center collected about $29 billion last year and had only about $15,000 in bad checks the problem isnt too bad. The do have their own collection system that is used to collect on such problem accounts. Officials at the Ogden Center reported last Friday that about 65 of the returns have been received. As for the other 35 you have about eight days left. ' . Picture 7 - Intregal U - " ''' V. machinery OF IRS the computer, is located in a security-proo- f room, with bulletproof windows. In case of an emergency, the room is completely sealed off with heavy metal doors. The computer is hooked up to 14 states, and anyone seeking data from any of these states may get information from the computer in 7 seconds. Designed in 1958, the computer costs IRS $1.9 million a year. IRS is planning to its computer system in the 1980s at a total cost of $750 million nationwide. THE HEART ren-novat- e Consumer conference set by Bankers Association unit The future of bank credit cards, sex discrimination in current and lending, legislation pertaining to bankers and consumers are just a few of the topics on tap for the 23rd annual Utah Bankers Association Consumer Conference to be held April 12 in the Hotel Utah. The primary purpose of the conference is to bring together persons in the installment lending profession so they may exchange views about the current marketplace, according to Bruce Christensen, Consumer Credit Conference chairman. Picture 4 - No pollution I ;; I 1 1 burns at such a high heat that no ashes are left of the articles put in. The only thing that comes out of the machine is steam, and no pollution is of it. produced. IRS used to shred all its old paper, now this incinerator takes care THIS INCINERATOR However, all interested bankers may attend. Kimball Young, Utah representative for Sen. Jake Garn, will fill in for the Senator as the keynote luncheon spaker. He will relay Garns message concerning current and future legislation pertaining to bankers and consumers. The welcome address will be given by M.D. Borthick, Sen. Utah Bankers Association president. of Colorado National Bank. Sex Discrimination in is the topic of Lending Brenda Robinson Hancock, coordinator of the Utahs Governors Commission on the Status of Women. president Rowland Dr. Paul Harmon, University of Utah business management professor, has chosen the Fall of Rome as his subject. Women in Banking is the topic of Janet Racine, president of Bank Corp., the holding company for Utahs first womens bank. Don B. Allen, Salt Lake will discuss Attorney, Regulation B of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The Future of Bank Credit Cards will be discussed by D. Dale senior vice Browning, 1 Day, vice W. and director of marketing for TRW Credit Datas western region, will speak about the Future of Credit Reporting. Charles E. Crowshaw, vice president and supervisor of First Security Bank, will address the topic of Simple president Interest Loans. For The Consumer e Doctrine will be discussed by W. Clark Burt, Salt Lake attorney. Christensen expects over 150 persons to attend the UBA Consumer Credit Conference. ccttte MAGNA |
