December, 2018
Report to the Legislature: CAPPS – ERP in Texas [posted 12/28/18]
The biennial Report to the 86th Legislature: CAPPS – ERP in Texas is available now for view or download. The report details for the Legislature the progress of statewide deployment of the Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel system, or CAPPS, as required by HB 3106 and passed by the 80th Legislature in 2007.
For more CAPPS information, see CAPPS System Overview and The CAPPS Program Model on the ProjectONE website.
Recovery Audit Report Now Available [posted 12/28/18]
By Jan. 1 of each odd-numbered year, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is statutorily required to report to the Legislature the results of overpayment recovery audits of certain state agencies.
Administering Overpayment Recovery Audits in the State of Texas Fiscal 2016 through 2018 is now available on the Recovery Audit Reports page.
Confidentiality Fields Now Included on All CAPPS Procurement Transactions [posted 12/28/18]
Each procurement transaction in CAPPS now includes the confidentiality fields CONF_ALL and CONF_SOME at the header level. If selected, the CONF_ALL or CONF_SOME value is carried to each successor document including the voucher and is transmitted to USAS.
For details, see Confidentiality fields on CAPPS procurement documents under Marking Transactions as Confidential in USAS and CAPPS Financials Confidentiality Indicator (FPP E.045).
Mileage Reimbursement Rate Increases to 58 Cents on Jan. 1 [posted 12/21/18]
Effective Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2019, the maximum mileage reimbursement rate for state employee travel in a personal vehicle will increase from 54.5 cents to 58 cents per mile. This rate is consistent with the Internal Revenue Service’s standard mileage rate.
See Current Rates or Transportation: Mileage in Personal Vehicle in Textravel for more information.
Note: State agencies may adopt an internal policy for a rate that is lower than the maximum rate; however, the agency must distribute the internal policy before its employees begin any travel under the lower rate.
Effective Immediately: New Fraud Detection Process for Direct Deposit Payments [posted 12/14/18]
The Comptroller’s office contracts with an Originating Depository Financial Institution (ODFI) to process the state’s direct deposit payments via the automated clearing house (ACH). The Comptroller’s ODFI has implemented an automated fraud detection process using a proprietary algorithm that may flag and hold payments suspected of fraud.
ACH payments transmitted by the Comptroller’s office on behalf of state agencies may trigger a warning message by the ODFI’s fraud detection algorithm. Flagged payments will be held pending confirmation up to 24 hours after the settlement date.
When a payment is flagged by the ODFI, Comptroller’s Fiscal Management Division will contact the appropriate direct deposit coordinator at the state agency that issued the payment. It is critical that agencies respond promptly to Fiscal Management’s request for payment and direct deposit confirmation to ensure your payees’ ACH payments post timely to their accounts. Any delays in responding to the ODFIs request for confirmation may result in the return of the ACH payment by the ODFI, which would require the agency to reissue the payment.
See Fraud Detection Process for Direct Deposit Payments for the complete process. Ensure your agency contacts are up to date by submitting the online Contact List Update Form. Contact Payment Services with any questions.
Fiscal 2019 First Quarter Desk and Post-Payment Audit Reports Are Available [posted 12/14/18]
The fiscal 2019 first quarter post-payment audit and desk audit reports are now available. See the Audit topic page for forms, fiscal policies and procedures and audit contact information.
Subscribe via GovDelivery to receive quarterly email notifications on posted audit reports.
Statewide Cost Allocation Worksheet Forms Due [posted 12/14/18]
Reminder – Warrant Pickup Available from 8 – 10 a.m. on Dec. 31 [posted 12/14/18]
Warrant pickup on Monday, Dec. 31 is only available from 8 – 10 a.m. See Payment Distribution for more information.
Reminder – USAS/TINS File Submission [posted 12/14/18]
If you need to submit a USAS or TINS batch file on a weekend or holiday, see the USAS/TINS Input Record File Submission Schedule.
Reminder – Direct Deposit Reversal Request Deadline Changed to 10 a.m. on Dec. 31 [posted 12/14/18]
Due to the New Year’s holiday, the deadline for submission of the Direct Deposit Reversal Request form (74-191) has been changed to 10 a.m. on Dec. 31.
Reminder – Check Direct Deposit Settlement Dates [posted 12/14/18]
State and federal holidays with no scheduled USAS cycle that are listed on the System Outages and Holidays calendar are excluded when determining the direct deposit settlement date of a payment.
Since financial institutions are closed, no direct deposit activity occurs on those days. Agencies must exclude these dates when determining when to process their payments to ensure prompt payment and avoid late payment interest.
Direct Deposit Reversal Request Deadline Changed to 10 a.m. on Dec. 31 [posted 12/07/18]
Due to the New Year’s holiday, the deadline for submission of the Direct Deposit Reversal Request form (74-191) has been changed to 10 a.m. on Dec. 31.
Check Direct Deposit Settlement Dates [posted 12/07/18]
State and federal holidays with no scheduled USAS cycle that are listed on the System Outages and Holidays calendar are excluded when determining the direct deposit settlement date of a payment.
Since financial institutions are closed, no direct deposit activity occurs on those days. Agencies must exclude these dates when determining when to process their payments to ensure prompt payment and avoid late payment interest.
Warrant Pickup Available from 8 – 10 a.m. on Dec. 31 [posted 12/07/18]
Warrant pickup on Monday, Dec. 31 is only available from 8 – 10 a.m. See Payment Distribution for more information.
USAS/TINS File Submission [posted 12/07/18]
If you need to submit a USAS or TINS batch file on a weekend or holiday, see the USAS/TINS Input Record File Submission Schedule.
Reminder – Deadline Approaching for First Quarter Veteran Workforce Summary Reports [posted 12/07/18]
The online quarterly Veteran Workforce Summary Report acknowledgment form (with required complaint reporting included) must be submitted by Dec. 31.
For more information, see Veteran Workforce Summary Reports and Veteran Complaint Reporting (FPP F.038).
Update Contact Information for ACA 1094-C and 1095-C by Dec. 31 [posted 12/05/18]
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) requires employers to offer affordable health insurance that provides minimum essential coverage to their full-time (and full-time equivalent) employees and their dependents or incur tax penalties.
The Comptroller’s office has updated ACA 1094C and 1095C Reporting Requirements (FPP F.039) for calendar year 2018. It is important to note that your agency is responsible for 1094-C and 1095-C reporting. Agencies should review this guidance for how it affects your agency.
USPS and CAPPS Central agencies are required to update 1094-C and 1095-C contact information by Dec. 31.