Tax Collector Works with Dunn Solutions Group and Learns Java to Pilot JETS

North Carolina's Department of Revenue (DOR) was bugged by Y2K threat and required an integrated tax administration system. A variety of antiquated hardware and software at different offices made gathering information tricky. Partnering with Dunn Solutions Group gave the DOR the technical know-how to create a truly modern tax collection system.

The DOR electronically tracks gift, inheritance, beer and wine, cigarette, corporate and income taxes, with the new system being expandable to accommodate the later inclusion of other revenues. Further, the information in the legacy system had to be transferred into the new database with 100 percent accuracy. With the millennium closing in, DOR needed to revamp its revenue collection architecture to allow about 200 users to enter and retrieve information quickly and accurately. At the same time, the DOR sought to eliminate the waste that occurred when several employees entered redundant data.

The DOR was already familiar with Dunn's strong knowledge of Visibroker and Java, as well as Dunn's ability to manage a production time line and conclude projects under tight deadlines. The resulting Java Enabled Tax System (JETS) is a comprehensive client/server application that lets the DOR manage every facet of a taxpayer's account. Users can enter information from tax returns, review the status of refunds and delinquencies and generate reports and correspondence. Because the DOR now employs a single systems, multiple entry of the same information has largely been eliminated. JETS is also faster than the legacy system including more reliable backup and archival features.

JETS maintains three years of current tax data and two years of historical data. Its security features permit just the right amount of clearance for individual employees through a single id/password screen. The expandability of JETS will ultimately allow access for a few hundred more DOR users over the next few years, while JET's flexibility will permit the DOR to quickly modify software in response to changes in tax laws.

Achieving self-sufficiency was vital to the success of the DOR program. Through a training Boot Camp, Dunn offered the DOR employees in-depth classes as well as mentoring. This not only taught the state employees how to manage JETS on their own, but also allowed them to assist Dunn in designing and developing the system. This ensured that JETS would be perfectly tailored to the needs of the DOR. Dunn also taught the DOR staff how to efficiently design a database, execute object modeling and program with Java.

Jets has given the DOR the power and unity to centralize the entire operation, while the Java code offers the state of North Carolina a bridge toward future Internet connectivity. Working with Dunn Solutions Group has ensured the DOR's next millennium will be off to a great start.