2018-34: Revise Social Security Number Question in CCCApply

Do you have a Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number?

Menu response options:

1. Yes = I have a Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number.
2. No = I don't have a SSN or TIN because I am an international student, undocumented student, a nonresident alien, or enrolled exclusively in noncredit classes."
3. I don't remember my SSN or TIN or
4. I decline to provide one at this time.

MODIFY No SSN field OR create new field (Josh is deciding)

Validation

If YES then display the SSN and Confirm SSN data input fields 

If NO is selected, THEN display - fill fill exist a

If "I don't remember"...- THEN - display "Failure to provide..."  box

If "I decline to provide one..." THEN ...TBD

Add new hyperlink sentence under the question prompt text for the purpose of hiding (or moving) the majority of the required, legal language that is creating barriers for current applicants.

Language in the hyperlink:  "Why am I being asked for my Social Security Number? 

Keep both SSN / Confirm SSN input fields. Add field logic to the SSN input field to determine if the number entered is a SSN or TIN.

(NOTE: maintain existing field validation for SSN/TIN that currently exists today, including A) must have 9 numbers; B) if number starts with a 9, then it is a TIN; etc.

Force formatting so that user inputs numbers (no letters, etc.) with hyphens, formatted correctly, etc.

Ensure for att

Keep the "SSN Exception" checkbox question: 
Scaffolding

, which is conditional based on the user selecting the "No SSN" box. Keep the existing language (Note - this is being reviewed by the Redesign Workgroup. The language in this question may change slightly.)

Remove the language in red text and replace with the text in blue text.

Remove all hyperlinks from within the text that's being moved into the slider drawer. 

• few exceptions
• Taxpayer Identification Number
• Privacy Policy

"Why am I being asked for my Social Security Number?" 

The Social Security Number is required to claim tax credits for higher education costs known as the American Opportunity Tax Credit in accordance with the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.

Federal law requires the California Community Colleges to provide specific information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the purpose of filing an information return (IRS Form 1098-T “Tuition Statement”) for each student in attendance, with a few exceptions. (few exceptions, including international students, undocumented nonresident aliens, and noncredit students.)

The information required by the IRS includes the student’s name, address, Social Security Number (SSN) or Taxpayer Identification Number Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN/iTIN), and enrollment status, as well as the amount of tuition paid or billed, and scholarships received. (26 C.F.R. 1-60505-1(b)(2)(ii).)

Failure to provide a correct Social Security Number or TIN while claiming tax credits for specified education expenses may result in a penalty levied against the student by the IRS in the amount of $100, per year, until the missing or incorrect information is provided
(26 C.F.R.  1-60505-1(e)(4)).

In addition, California Education Code sections 68041 and 70901(b)(7) authorizes the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) to collect information you submit through the OpenCCC Online Student Account and CCCApply Online Application for Admission for the purposes of completing and submitting California College admission applications and financial aid on your behalf. 

Further, information acquired by the CCCCO is subject to the limitations set forth in the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Title 1.8 (commencing with Section 1798) of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code). Compliance with these laws is identified in the Privacy Policy Privacy Policy.

(See CSU disclosure in the screenshot below:

"pursuant to Section 41201, Title 5, Code of Regulations, and Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Service...

§301.6109-3   IRS adoption taxpayer identification numbers.

(a) In general—(1) Definition. An IRS adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN) is a temporary taxpayer identifying number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to a child (other than an alien individual as defined in §301.6109-1(d)(3)(i)) who has been placed, by an authorized placement agency, in the household of a prospective adoptive parent for legal adoption. An ATIN is assigned to the child upon application for use in connection with filing requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder. When an adoption becomes final, the adoptive parent must apply for a social security number for the child. After the social security number is assigned, that number, rather than the ATIN, must be used as the child's taxpayer identification number on all returns, statements, or other documents required under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

KEEP the following Help text messages - using the existing hyperlinks. The Help text will display in right-side slider drawer instead of a pop-up error message. See mock-up for placement.

with new or modified text

Keep:  Privacy Policy - keep linking this out to the OpenCCC Privacy Policy

REMOVE:  Exceptions: (keep existing hyperlink(s) and text boxes/language)

REMOVE:  Few exceptions (keep existing hyperlink(s) and text boxes/language)

REMOVE:  Taxpayer Identification Number (keep existing hyperlink(s) and text boxes/language)

Add pop-up help box under a new hyperlink: "Why am I being asked for my Social Security Number?"

Spell out definitions of TINs or get rid of it?

Display the "few exceptions" on screen or get rid of hyperlink?

"Why am I being asked for my Social Security Number?" Pop-Up Help Box Hyperlink

The Social Security Number is required to claim tax credits for higher education costs known as the American Opportunity Tax Credit in accordance with the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.

Federal law requires the California Community Colleges to provide specific information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the purpose of filing an information return (IRS Form 1098-T “Tuition Statement”) for each student in attendance, with a few exceptions.

The information required by the IRS includes the student’s name, address, Social Security Number (SSN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN/iTIN), and enrollment status, as well as the amount of tuition paid or billed, and scholarships received. (26 C.F.R. 1-60505-1(b)(2)(ii).)

Failure to provide a correct Social Security Number or TIN while claiming tax credits for specified education expenses may result in a penalty levied against the student by the IRS in the amount of $100, per year, until the missing or incorrect information is provided
(26 C.F.R.  1-60505-1(e)(4)).

In addition, California Education Code sections 68041 and 70901(b)(7) authorizes the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) to collect information you submit through the OpenCCC Online Student Account and CCCApply Online Application for Admission for the purposes of completing and submitting California College admission applications and financial aid on your behalf. 

Further, information acquired by the CCCCO is subject to the limitations set forth in the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Title 1.8 (commencing with Section 1798) of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code). Compliance with these laws is identified in the Privacy Policy.

(See CSU disclosure in the screenshot below:

"pursuant to Section 41201, Title 5, Code of Regulations, and Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Service...

§301.6109-3   IRS adoption taxpayer identification numbers.

(a) In general—(1) Definition. An IRS adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN) is a temporary taxpayer identifying number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to a child (other than an alien individual as defined in §301.6109-1(d)(3)(i)) who has been placed, by an authorized placement agency, in the household of a prospective adoptive parent for legal adoption. An ATIN is assigned to the child upon application for use in connection with filing requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder. When an adoption becomes final, the adoptive parent must apply for a social security number for the child. After the social security number is assigned, that number, rather than the ATIN, must be used as the child's taxpayer identification number on all returns, statements, or other documents required under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

Keep the pop-up Help textbox and hyperlink for "Exceptions" in the "SSN Exceptions" checkbox

Exceptions

Exceptions include students exclusively enrolled in noncredit courses, undocumented international students and nonresident aliens, unless the nonresident alien student requests that a return be provided to the IRS. (26 C.F.R. 1.60505-1(a)(2), (b)(5)(ii).)

Keep the pop-up Help text box and hyperlink for "Taxpayer Identification Number" - keep all existing 

Keep existing

Keep the existing link out to the Privacy Policy (OpenCCC)

Keep existing but check that it's pointing to the correct doc.

Update Account Matching logic to reduce duplicates for Account & proxy Account

Account Matching 

OPTION A

Currently our duplication rate is .003 and we need to protect that number

What can be done to remove reliance on SSN?

Account Creation, Matching & Verification Specification v5.4.0

/wiki/spaces/OPENAPPLY/pages/72155246

no longer valid

Account Matching

Redesign SSN Question

Keep in OpenCCC Account for now

Remove the SSN Encouragement pop-up 

Consider: Why am I being asked for my SSN?

See Patty's version of revision to the language in our existing Account app here:  /wiki/spaces/PD/pages/729514134

no longer valid

Label & Question

Prompt Text

Social Security Number (or Taxpayer ID Number)

The Social Security Number is used as a means of identifying student records and to facilitate financial aid.

Financial Aid Interest

<fin_aid>

Checkbox

•  I plan to apply for admission to college or financial aid.

IRS Legal Language

Prompt Text

The Social Security Number is required to claim tax credits for higher education costs known as the American Opportunity Tax Credit in accordance with the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.

Federal law requires the California Community Colleges to provide specific information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the purpose of filing an information return (IRS Form 1098-T “Tuition Statement”) for each student in attendance, with a few exceptions.

The information required by the IRS includes the student’s name, address, Social Security Number (SSN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN/iTIN), and enrollment status, as well as the amount of tuition paid or billed, and scholarships received. (26 C.F.R. 1-60505-1(b)(2)(ii).)

Failure to provide a correct Social Security Number or TIN while claiming tax credits for specified education expenses may result in a penalty levied against the student by the IRS in the amount of $100, per year, until the missing or incorrect information is provided
(26 C.F.R.  1-60505-1(e)(4)).

In addition, California Education Code sections 68041 and 70901(b)(7) authorizes the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) to collect information you submit through the OpenCCC Online Student Account and CCCApply Online Application for Admission for the purposes of completing and submitting California College admission applications and financial aid on your behalf. 

Further, information acquired by the CCCCO is subject to the limitations set forth in the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Title 1.8 (commencing with Section 1798) of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code). Compliance with these laws is identified in the Privacy Policy.

Help Boxes

hyperlink

Pop-Up Hyperlink

A Few Exceptions: Exceptions include students exclusively enrolled in noncredit courses, undocumented international students and nonresident aliens, unless the nonresident alien student requests that a return be provided to the IRS. (26 C.F.R. 1.60505-1(a)(2), (b)(5)(ii).)

Taxpayer Identification Number: 

Privacy Policy: Hyperlink to the existing Privacy Policy. Opens in a new page

Other Exceptions

SSN Type 

<ssn_type>

Radio Buttons

Please indicate the type of number:

• Social Security Number

• Taxpayer Identification Number

SSN / Confirm SSN

<ssn>

Text Input 

By providing my Social Security Number (or Taxpayer Identification Number) below, or indicating that I do not have a Social Security Number or decline to provide one at this time, I confirm that I have read and understand the federal regulations provided above, and the state regulations provided in the privacy policy.

Your Social Security Number must be accurate to ensure the integrity of your permanent record and to avoid potential penalties imposed by the IRS for providing an incorrect number.

Social Security Number (or Taxpayer Identification Number)

Repeat Social Security Number (or Taxpayer Identification Number)

(This statement ensured we are complying with regulations by having students “confirm” they have read and understand exactly what data is being collected and why, and the consequences for not complying with federal regulations. By wording the confirmation statement in this way, we were also removing the need for another download field.)

Decline to State

<no_ssn>

Checkbox

• Check this box if you do not have a Social Security Number (or Taxpayer ID Number), or decline to provide one at this time.

International Exception

<ssn_exception>

Checkbox

• Undocumented international students, nonresident aliens, and other exceptions, may not have a SSN, or TIN, and should check this box.