Intervise Provides Key Testing Services to the IRS Modernized eFile (MeF) Program
Helping U.S. Citizens and Businesses Process Tax Forms Efficiently
The Modernized e-File (MeF) program, managed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) bureau within U.S. Department of the Treasury, receives and validates electronically-transmitted corporate and individual tax returns. The electronic filing system benefits the IRS and taxpayers by providing immediate access to tax information and by reducing the time and resources needed to file and process tax returns.
The Modernized e-File (MeF) program, managed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) bureau within U.S. Department of the Treasury, receives and validates electronically-transmitted corporate and individual tax returns. The electronic filing system benefits the IRS and taxpayers by providing immediate access to tax information and by reducing the time and resources needed to file and process tax returns.
During peak tax season, between 100 and 150 returns per second come through the system electronically. Intervise ensures the success of these transactions by repeatedly testing forms to determine conditions that cause applications to fail and determining how well the applications recover when system and database table failures occur.
The test results allow application developers to identify the root cause of application problems and limit any inconveniences that failures create for tax payers. After conducting tests, Intervise test professionals interpret the results for developers and then conduct further tests to determine how well the tax system servers route forms to the appropriate processing systems.
Performance Testing of WebSphere and Oracle System Components
Within the MeF project, Intervise manages application testing, system integration testing, code maintenance, and support for production issues as well as the integration of infrastructure components for the WebSphere portal application and Oracle database. Tasks include coding and scripting for Java, JavaScript, HTML, XSL and Jython as well as application design and development for J2EE/Java components.
Additional Oracle responsibilities include assisting with capacity planning for the 30-terabyte database, high-availability implementation, performance tuning, software evaluation, and hardware assessments. Intervise also develops and tests the annual, multi-week Oracle database migration plans for the Final Integration Test system at Lanham, MD as well as deployment to the IRS production facility at Martinsburg, WV and the disaster recovery data center in Memphis.
Code Maintenance and Compliance
Intervise performs MeF code maintenance in response to production issues and needs identified by the IRS. Testers support the integration of MeF infrastructure components with applications and provide detailed documentation of the software design and code.
With responsibility for ensuring the IRS MeF Oracle database complies with CMM/CMMI level
5 processes, Intervise designs and maintains the Rational Rose data model. Intervise also oversees XML data mapping, schema versioning, databases creation and management using UML methodology.
Long-Term Track Record of Success
For over 13 years, Intervise has been a key partner with the IRS in the continued evolution and success of the MeF program. Their testers provide valuable insight into system and application issues, and ensure the program runs smoothly by providing key maintenance tasks. Intervise is proud of the successful role it plays to ensure MeF functions effectively for U.S. taxpayers and the IRS.
Summary
To ensure U.S. citizens and businesses can efficiently submit electronic tax forms, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has relied on Intervise for 13+ years to test the performance and recovery abilities of the Modern e-File system employed by the IRS.
Relying on a combination of Web services, Internet, and XML-based solutions, the system supports the significant increases in volume that have occurred in recent years as filing electronic tax forms grows in popularity.